Intel and PICTI rolling the creation of a technology entrepreneurial ecosystem

Mr. Will Swope talked about how the company was working within the US Palestinian Partnership (UPP) to ensure speedy ICT development in Palestine through education.

He advised that "the educational initiative in cooperation with the PICTI that will take place on July 7th and 8th in Ramallah is jump starting academically based entrepreneurship programs focused on technology and creating linkages between regionally aligned efforts."

He advised that "the Theory to Practice Seminar focuses on effective teaching of entrepreneurship and creation of programs and organizations to support entrepreneurship."

Mr. David Charron and Mr. John Danner are two Professors from the Lester Center at the University of Berkeley that will be teaching the Seminar in Ramallah and bring a wide variety of practical techniques and theoretical frameworks in their teaching and content. They are also experienced entrepreneurs, educators and business consultants.

Mr. Ferruh Gurtas, Corporate Affairs Manager for Middle East, Turkey and Africa also advised that Intel Corporation is the founding sponsor of this Seminar series as part of a program to create and support entrepreneurship education around the world. They provide in-country coordination through the Intel Higher Education Program.

The Intel+UC Berkeley Entrepreneurship Initiative includes a two-week comprehensive Global Faculty Colloquium located at Berkeley for individuals who have completed the Seminar and who are to be recognized as entrepreneurial leaders in their regions. The Initiative also includes the Intel+UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge, a global business plan competition held at Berkeley in the fall.

Mr. Laith Kassis, the General Manager of PICTI said:

"As of now, much of the academic programs at the Palestinian universities are geared towards graduating youth that are psyched and eager to join the market as paid white collar professionals and not as professional entrepreneurs."

He continued to say, "In contrast, the latest trend in the US higher education system is to develop industry relevant technology entrepreneurship education such as those programs rolled in the University of California - Berkeley in partnership with Intel and this is the main reason for PICTI to wanting to launch the two day seminar is to initiate for such training at the Palestinian universities in cooperation with the distinguished professors whom are invited to this Intel sponsored Seminar training."

Mr. David Charron, Associate Director of the Lester Center, advised that "the foundation for such education is that entrepreneurship is a management process and not a personal or individual characteristic and trait and as a process it can be taught at the academic institutions to increase the likelihood of entrepreneurs to succeed in their entrepreneurial start-up careers if they wish to do so. Furthermore, the Intel and UC Berkeley Seminar and the business plan tool have both become the best metaphor for entrepreneurial education, which differs from the classical "corporate management" business courses that are taught in business disciplines and classes.

Ms. Rula Habash, the Intel Corporate Affairs Manager for Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine also advised that "Intel has seen programs at universities teaching entrepreneurship in the MENA region as a form of small and medium enterprises management or catering for family business to learn how to operate their existing small businesses. However, technology entrepreneurship Seminar is all about educating individuals about future big companies that tend to start up small. It is about knowing the stages of the start-up company in its life cycle as it grows to join the corporate world. It is about creating new products and new markets and to bring technology solutions to compelling market needs. The 2 day seminar that Intel is bringing to Palestine, over the last 2 years has already been conducted in over 15 countries worldwide with over 300 participants (facilities). The program has received excellent feedback and has helped faculties jumpstart entrepreneur & incubation initiatives in their respective universities."

Hence, Mr. Laith Kassis advised "that the framework for teaching the technology entrepreneurship in the Seminar will rely on relevant and localized curriculum and courses at our Palestinian academic institutions."

Mr. Kassis expressed his satisfaction that 30 professors from 7 higher education institutions including the Arab American University, An Najah University, Birzeit University, Bethlehem University, Abu Dis University, Polytechnic University and Al - Quds Open University will be participating in the two day Seminar. Mr. Kassis also advised that PICTI will continue to cooperate with the higher education institutions in Palestine and Intel in introducing relevant technology entrepreneurship material.