The Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL), part of Cambridge’s Judge Business School, has developed a new Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, tapping into the ‘Arab Spring effect’ by visiting Cairo on its promotional roadshow. The CfEL anticipates a rise in demand for the kind of skills the course will cover following the upheaval across the region.

The postgraduate diploma, accredited by the University of Cambridge, is described by the Centre as “a highly practical programme designed specifically for entrepreneurs to nurture their entrepreneurial ambitions and enable new ventures through an academically rigorous, directly relevant and highly practical learning experience.”

The promotional event, which took place in Cairo on 15th January, was one of a series of roadshows held in key markets across the world, including London and Malaysia, with another event planned in Hong Kong on 29th January.

Speaking to Business Weekly, CfEL director Dr Shai Vyakarnam said, “Given the recent ‘Arab Spring’ impact on Egypt and a young, well-educated population looking to make changes in their country this makes it an interesting market for entrepreneurship.” 

“Our ambassador for the Cairo event – Dr Shima Barakat – is from Egypt and so has good contacts in the region which we can build on.”

Dr Barakat, research and teaching Fellow for CfEL, spoke at the event in Cairo alongside Ahmed Ezzat, social entrepreneur and former Managing Director of Endeavor Egypt, Alsherif Wahdan, Vice President at Concord Corporate Finance and Securities Marketing and Tarek Nasr, Managing Director of Planet 360.

Talking to Cambridge Network, Ahmed Ezzat commented: “Traditionally, Egypt has had a culture that places great value on stable public-sector jobs, however this is changing. Deregulation and privatisation are creating opportunities for innovation and the penetration of the Internet means that Egypt’s young generation now see famous entrepreneurs abroad as role models. Contact with entrepreneurs across the world will accelerate this transition.”

The global promotion of the course has clearly proved successful as Dr Vyakarnam reveals that they have received applications from across the world, including Malaysia, Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK, Spain and Ireland. 

The development of this new course is part of a general move by the university to provide a wider selection of courses for postgraduates and to expand the Judge Business School, in the pursuit of further prestige and sources of income. The course fee for the new Diploma in Entrepreneurship, for instance, is set at £11,025.