This six-week course is offered by the University of Connecticut (UConn) Lieberman Abrahamic Program. It provides an overview of international entrepreneurship with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Key traits of successful entrepreneurs in the region will be identified, including virtues such as trustworthiness, empathy, and critical thinking, which are found in the teachings of the Abrahamic traditions.
Students will learn practices that will foster the resilience needed for business success. The course draws on case studies of joint ventures in the MENA region and explores business development strategies, MENA entrepreneurial ecosystems, and opportunities for mentoring and financing. Students from Morocco, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, and the United States will work together in groups to address an entrepreneurial question and will present their work in the final session.
In addition to the main presenters, the course will make use of expert guest lecturers and case studies. This is a non-credit course. Students will receive a UConn certificate upon completion.