6 Reasons to Study Business Management & Entrepreneurship at Akilah
BME student Joyeuse Uwitonze was promoted to Shop Manager at Toddle Care, a children’s store, after her three-month internship. She leads a team of seven employees, makes financial and sales reports, and manages customer relationships.
Students have a lot of options when it comes to their future. There are many business programs to choose from in East Africa, but some are more likely to set their graduates up for success than others.
At Akilah, our newly redesigned Diploma in Business Management & Entrepreneurship (BME) prepares students to become successful entrepreneurs or to join existing companies as valuable employees. In fact, 88% of our graduates start businesses or secure employment within six months of graduation.
But there’s more to it than that. Read on for the top six reasons why you should consider Akilah’s BME program.
1. Choose your path
Akilah offers two tracks in its Business Management & Entrepreneurship Diploma: 1.) Business Management and 2.) Entrepreneurship. All students take the same courses their first year and master business basics, such as accounting, marketing, and human resources. They gain a strong understanding of what it takes to start and run a business so by the second year, they can make an informed choice on which track to pursue. The Entrepreneurship track prepares students to launch a business immediately after graduation. The Business Management track equips students with the knowledge to find a job with an existing company.
2. Gain practical skills
This year Akilah introduced competency-based education (CBE). CBE focuses on what students know and can do, rather than the amount of time they spend in the classroom. It allows students to show employers that they have mastered skills relevant to the workplace. For example, a student interested in digital marketing can show an employer that she has created and run a digital marketing campaign, rather than simply studying how to do it.
BME student Sakina Usengimana continued her jewelry-making business after graduation and now runs it alongside her full-time job at the Marriott.
3. Launch a business
Akilah students learn by doing.All students, no matter which track they chose, run a business for three months as part of a team. Students come up with their own business idea and assume different roles, such as CEO, sales representative, and financial officer. Each team receives RWF 100,000–120,000 to invest in their business. Previous businesses have ranged from microlending to uniform production to jewelry. Many of the businesses make a profit, and students can keep half the profit to reinvest in their companies. The other half is donated to a charity of their choice. Students can also choose to continue running their business during their second year and after graduating from Akilah.
4. Receive mentorship and support
Akilah’s Business Incubation Center provides a physical space for students to work with business experts and mentors on their business ideas. All Akilah students have access to the Business Incubation Center, including those in other diploma programs. The center also offers a specialized program for 12 students with very strong business ideas. This six-month program prepares students to launch their businesses and secure funding.
The winners of the Akilah Entrepreneurship Fund competition received funds to continue with their business ideas.
5. Win funding
Getting a loan for a new business can be tough, especially for recent graduates. Akilah students have the opportunity to win funding in the Akilah Entrepreneurship Fund competition. Students present their best pitches to a panel of judges, and the winner walks away with RWF 2 million — second and third place get money too. The top student businesses are also referred to Entrepreneurium, a local business incubator that offers funding and mentorship opportunities.
6. Enter the workforce career-ready
Akilah’s BME program teaches students to think like founders, leaders, and managers. All Akilah students receive intensive leadership instruction. This readies students to make difficult decisions, take initiative, and think strategically. Employers value graduates who can lead in the workplace. Akilah BME alumnae are prepared for jobs in banking, insurance, operations, supply chain management and logistics, business development, marketing, and much more.