Open Learning Diploma in Business Entrepreneurship

The post liberalisation industrial and economic scenario in India makes it imperative that a more dynamic and pragmatic approach be adopted to create new, first generation entrepreneurs on a large scale. This would help in tackling the problem of unemployment and contribute to the creation of new entrepreneurs. Using knowledge & advanced technology as their strategic tools those who can take on the increased competition in the domestic as well as global markets are innovators and entrepreneurs in true sense. This can be achieved only if more and more people are motivated and convinced to choose entrepreneurship as a career and put their energies and resources to a productive use.

Various state level entrepreneurship development institutions as well as EDI, the pioneer in entrepreneurship development, have, for decades, been conducting localised class-room Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs). These EDPs have limitation in terms of beneficiaries being covered at a time and thus fail to fulfill the need of a large number of potential entrepreneurs scattered in the vast geographical areas of the country. Hence, there is need for a novel approach.

To address the need of developing new, committed entrepreneurs on a large scale, the EDI, Ahmedabad has conceptualised and launched an innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme through distance learning and personal counselling titled Open Learning Diploma in Business Entrepreneurship.

This course is sponsored by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (FNSt), a foundation of International repute from Germany and supported by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this programme is to promote ‘New Enterprise Creation and Management’. To achieve this objective, the study material focusses on various aspects of starting and managing an enterprise.

The course :

* Develops motivation, reinforces entrepreneurial traits and the spirit of enterprise;
* Facilitates decision making process for setting up new enterprise;
* Facilitates successful and profitable operation of the enterprise.

SALIENT FEATURES

The programme has the following salient features :

* More readily accessible than conventional EDP
* Learning at the place, pace and time of learner’s choice
* Flexibility in terms of enrollment
* Counselling support throughout the course
* Follow up support upto three months after successful completion of the course
* Two contact sessions of three to four days each
* Facility of availing loan under PMRY scheme

The contact sessions focus on entrepreneurial motivation, business opportunity guidance, preparation of detailed project report, project appraisal system of banks and financial institutions and interactions with successful entrepreneurs.

SYLLABUS

The following topics are covered in the form of self-instructional study material divided into eleven units :

Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Support Agencies, Business Opportunity Identification, Market Assessment, Entrepreneurial Motivation, Project Report Preparation, Export & Statutory Regulations, Small Business Management which includes Financial Management, Personnel Management, Marketing Management, Time Management, Strategic Management, Venture Capital Financing, Franchising, Business Ethics, Total Quality Management, etc.

To put it briefly, it prepares a learner with Knowledge, Skills and Motivation to set up an enterprise and manage it successfully.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology of the course includes; self-instructional study material, assignments, personal counselling through experts/professional counsellors and two contact sessions during the course.