The Ukrainian educational system has produced a highly educated work force and managers with sophisticated technical skills but lacking in business skills, market economy understanding and decision-making skills. With the move from a central economy to one of local economic planning and self-starting business reliance, citizens are forced to be innovative, risk takers and decision makers. With the lack of adequate business skills, entrepreneurial training will be a critical element in the process of private sector development in Ivano-Frankivsk. Entrepreneurs are more often created than born. Research from around the world has born out that appropriate entrepreneurship education and training can both increase the level of entrepreneurial activity in the private sector and improve the survival rate for new ventures.

To ensure that the training and other assistance delivered by SBEDIF meets demonstrated needs, identification process will be put in place to provide focus, direction and priorities. Training will have to address all aspects of small business development from inception to sustainability to expansion. Ivano-Frankivsk provides endless business opportunities; for the aspiring entrepreneur. Identifying these opportunities; translating the concept into a researched marketing and business plan; obtaining and managing appropriate financing; and dealing with the challenges of market economy competition require
understanding, skills and confidence in a well thought out venture. Helping create an entrepreneurial culture and understanding in the community will be a priority of the SBEDIF program as well as bridging the confidence and information gap between energetic potential business people and realistic business opportunities.

Confederation College will develop a program that will meet the specific business skills identified in the needs assessment and that are typically required by most entrepreneurs. Examples of small business skills include choosing between business options, evaluating a business idea, business planning, writing a business plan, financial structure and analysis, marketing, pricing, competition analysis, communicating to your market, business operations, business organization, sales forecasting, financial feasibility analysis, effective business communications, using computers to run the business, problem solving, crises management, dealing with suppliers, selling yourself and your business, customer service, export pricing, international accounting, legal requirements, taxation, and international market research. Entrepreneurs do not want nor do they have the time for endless hours of classes. They need working skills and tools presented in a concise and working fashion on demand to meet their needs. The entrepreneurship training will meet these needs with the client driving the demand. A catalyst to create demand for this training will include the SBEDIF small business loan program that will demand a high standard business plan as a precondition of business loans. In addition, as competition between entrepreneurs becomes an issue within the community and internationally, skill development to meet these challenges will create further demand for these skills.

In addition to the above, a need has been identified by the Ukrainian Ministry of Labour for the provision of specialized entrepreneurial training for clients of the Ministry of Labour. This program will be pursued in partnership with and sponsored by The Ministry of Labour.

Last updates were made 19-08-99

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© SBEDIF Business Centre, 1997