An eleven month-long postgraduate diploma in entrepreneurship was launched at National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NI-MSME) here on Thursday.
The programme would be the institute’s first long-term, full-time course.
Named PG Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (PG-DEED), the course would be divided into three sections—two of four months duration and one of three months. The first section would teach fundamentals of business, while the second would focus on sector-specific development and the third would offer internship or on-the-job experience to candidates.
The programme, which would accommodate 40 candidates this year, does not support employment as it is dedicated to entrepreneurs who are interested in developing businesses. The forty seats would be open for applicants from across the country.
Sanjeev Chaturvedi, director of NI-MSME told The Hindu , “Our students will also be supported with financial assistance as we will handhold them to get economic support from banks and other financial institutions”.
Even three years after students set up entrepreneurship ventures, the institute would support them with the aid of banks that are on its board, Mr. Chaturvedi added. Currently, the institute offers 67 short-term courses for national candidates. Another 12 are offered for international candidates.
The NI-MSME is also expected to launch a programme for women entrepreneurs by January 2019. “There is a lot of interest from female entrepreneurs, especially those who are working in our incubation centre. The course for women will also be a full-time one,” Mr. Chaturvedi said.
The course would be open for women who are interested in developing start-ups along with those who have already started their own venture.
“After two to three years of starting a venture, entrepreneurs might need some support. We are ready to offer that to women entrepreneurs,” the director added.
