Applied Entrepreneurship Education Program (AEEP), a three-year joint venture of Arba Minch University and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences’ (HNU) completed its second term on Sept. 8, 2015.

The project was launched in October 2013, and the formal announcement about its closure was made in a conference held at Main Campus with the promise to see its objectives are materialized. AMU President, Dr Feleke Woldeyes opening the conference, said, the objective with which this project was launched has started yielding results. Now it’s time to evaluate the amount of efforts you all put in and also to explore the possibility of future collaboration with HNU. AEEP in its last leg has conducted two-month intense training for the selected 33 micro-entrepreneurs and 12 AMU students from electrical and mechanical departments from July 13 to Sept 7, 2015 at AMU Campus. AEEP project coordinators from Arba Minch University and HNU, Mr Phillips Travers and Mr Nathaniel Chuta while recapping also dwelt into the problems encountered and success achieved during its implementation. Later in an expo held at electrical workshop, six prototypes developed by AMU and micro-entrepreneurs were put on display; the six business models were formulated in Germany. This time micro-entrepreneurs were directly involved in manufacturing prototypes, have had hands-on knowledge of the technical knowhow. For one of the entrepreneurs, Andinet Minasse, this project has been a life-changing experience as it has strengthened his technical capacity. Some of the AMU students and instructors said, though initially they had inhibitions, but later realized their confidence level got increased. ‘‘Now we are determined to make our own life with the knowledge acquired,’’ they say. Prototypes i.e. Visual Sport Entertainment Centre, City Solar Mobile Photograph Computer Centre, Rural Solar ICT Training Centre, Rural Solar Mobile Photographer, Mobile Fast-food Sandwich Wagon and CNC Machine for toys and gifts soon would be pushed into different identified locations to test the market by the micro-entrepreneurs. Trade and Industry office is likely to take care of the financial aspect. Vice President for Research and Community Service, Dr Guchie Gulie, encouraging the micro-entrepreneurs said this training will transform your life as project’s success is completely hinged on you as it will be measured by the knowledge you learned and skills acquired. He also asked them to utilize the prototypes in a way that would change their life and set the example to be emulated by other youth in the nation. AMU instructors who contributed towards the success of the project without claiming any monitory benefit received high praises. During the discussion, project’s German counterpart along with distinguished guests raised relevant issues of project promotion like involvement of local media, formal discussion with the common stakeholders along with community leaders and documentation with easy accessibility for the larger audience. (By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)