Course syllabus for Entrepreneurship in developing countries

Entreprenörskap i utvecklingsländer

Specific entry requirements

No less than 120 credits.

Outcomes

The overall aim of this course is to introduce the students to an overview of the role that entrepreneurship plays in economical, social and ecologically sustainable development, including poverty reduction (focus is on the development regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America) by: - Describe the central development policy challenges that the developing countries face during the 21th century. - Identify opportunities for sustainable business in developing countries, especially among the poor. - Arguing for the kind of general expertise necessary to develop entrepreneurial initiatives in developing countries. - Evaluate leadership and managements dilemmas regarding risk management and uncertainty in developing regions. - Analyse the link between technological innovations entrepreneurship and sustainable development from a theoretical and practical perspective. - Identify and analyse the predominant characteristics of the overall policy and reform environment that creates business and technology development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. - Introduce and discuss aid, trade and foreign direct investment as tools to develop the capacity to carry out activities for sustainable development.

Content

Throughout the course, the students will study the the foundations of entrepreneurship; to develop ideas and act on them. The course is based in entrepreneurship theory and experiences from practical case studies used for inspirational learning. Relevant issues include among others: - creativity and idea generation - markets and entrepreneurial companies/organisational models - Funding Through contextualization of developing countries, different parts of entrepreneurship are stressed. Relevant issues include among others: - how entrepreneurship can contribute to development in different ways - how entrepreneurship acts and reacts to possibilities and needs in developing societies This content will be processed in group projects which will address various entrepreneurial initiatives. Certain projects will stop as fictitious case studies while others may be developed to actual entrepreneurial initiatives. All will be followed by critical reflections around entrepreneurship in developing countries.

Teaching methods

Instruction will be based on lectures regarding key issues, inspiring guest speakers, creative learning-by-doing project work, discussions and critically reflective submissions. Literature, articles and interviews will be used through the course. Workshops and seminars are compulsory as well as some lectures. In case of absence contact the course administration for, possibly, a complementary assignment. Compulsory parts are given in the schedule.

Examination

The students' grade will be dependent on two factors: - individual learning log including a number of critically reflective submissions - group assignments A student who has failed in the regular examination, is entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no more examination is offered/examination session. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be regarded as an examination.

Transitional provisions

The examination will be provided during a period of two years after a close-down of the course. Examination may take place under a previous reading list, up to the next course occasion.

Other directives

Language of instruction is English. The course is provided in the context for Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES). Responsible department: Stockholm's University