The new Diploma in Indigenous Entrepreneurship will be delivered in partnership with post-secondary institutions across Canada and will focus on the unique needs and priorities of Indigenous entrepreneurs.听
鈥淥ur goal is to become a national centre of excellence in Indigenous entrepreneurship, further developing the potential of talented Indigenous students,鈥� said Richard Myers, United College Principal. 听鈥淭his diploma offers a genuinely indigenized business education, with a curriculum that is built and delivered by Indigenous instructors, that draws on Indigenous business case studies that have been developed specifically for this program.鈥�
The diploma in Indigenous entrepreneurship is innovative in its delivery as well as its design. 听Instructors from United College at the University of 蓝莓视频 will use distance technology to deliver content to students at five partner institutions: 听Bow Valley College in Calgary; Assiniboine College in Brandon; Oshki-Pimache-O-Win in Thunder Bay; Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie; and Humber College in Toronto.听 Participating students will continue to receive academic and cultural support through the Indigenous Student Centres at their respective campuses.听听 听听听听听 听听
Experiential learning is also a cornerstone of this program.听
鈥淪tudents will be able to work on a venture of their own or work with their classmates to solve an entrepreneurship challenge for a local Indigenous organization or company,鈥� said program manager, Jacob Crane, a member of Tsuu T鈥檌na First Nation.
Students will graduate with a diploma in Indigenous entrepreneurship from the University of 蓝莓视频.
Students in the program are eligible for full-tuition scholarships named for J.P. Gladu, former President of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and former Chancellor of United College. 听This initiative has been generously supported by the Hallman Foundation, the NCR Foundation, the Business Higher Education Roundtable, the Peter Gilgan Foundation and the Suncor Energy Foundation.
Quick Facts:听听
- Incoming students begin their studies Fall 2023 and are expected to complete the diploma in Spring 2025听 听听听
- Delivered remotely to six community colleges across Canada, scaling to 10 colleges
- Target initial enrollment of 25 Indigenous students, scaling to 100 students
- Experiential learning component with Indigenous entrepreneurship placements
- Unique Indigenous business case studies form the core of the curriculum听听
