Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Center: Honduras
洪都拉斯失业率高达41%，大学毕业生就业困难。国立自治大学成立创新与创业发展中心，通过创业培训和小企业支持促进经济增长和就业。
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER: HONDURAS The labor market in Honduras has contracted to such an extent that the level of unemployment has reached an alarming 41 percent of the economically active population. This translates to approximately 900,000 unemployed persons in a country with a total population of six million.1 1 According to statistics published by the Central American Congress of Economists held in Tegulcigalpa, Honduras, in October 1986. One consequence of this state of affairs is that newly graduated university professionals are finding it extremely difficult to find suitable employment, thus frustrating their expectation that a university degree can lead to a better standard of living for them as individuals as they work for the good of the community as a whole. The National Autonomous University of Honduras2 has recognized the pressing need to find new alternatives that will allow graduates to become a part of the free enterprise system so that they can effectively contribute to their own welfare and the country's economy. A number of staff of the Faculty of Economic, Administrative, and Accounting Sciences recognize that the training of future entrepreneurs requires creation of a climate of economic opportunity for future college graduates. At the same time, they propose an innovative approach to business education within the traditional university education framework. With these goals in mind, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Center was instituted. 2 Author's translation of the official name: Universidad Autonoma de Honduras. The Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras is a government-funded institution founded in 1847. It has a present enrollment of approximately 30,300 students distributed among 32 different majors. The purpose of the Center is to promote economic growth and employment in Honduras through (a) the training of entrepreneurial students prepared to initiate new business ventures and (b) through improvements in the performance of existing small businesses. More specifically, the Center states the following goals: Development of educational programs which will provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to create and operate new businesses successfully. Assistance to ongoing businesses through an outreach program intended to improve both survival rates and performance levels. Identification of new markets for the products and services of small businesses. Assistance to individuals and groups planning to initiate business ventures that hold promise for creating jobs and implementing innovative strategies and practices. Conducting basic research of practical value to entrepreneurs and small business owner/managers. Providing continuing education opportunities for enterpreneurs and business owners. The Center has a high degree of functional autonomy, since it operates as a department within the Faculty of Economic, Administrative, and Accounting Sciences. It has an Advisory Council composed of practicing professionals and entrepreneurs with a proven track record, along with several entrepreneurial advisors who serve as role models for participants. MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER Entrepreneurship Development Program This program consists of undergraduate entrepreneurship courses taught over three consecutive academic semesters by resident faculty, practising professionals, and successful local entrepreneurs. The prerequisite for participation in the EDP is that students must be in the last three semesters of their academic program. The first course offered is Project Formulation and Evaluation, a course designed to give students general knowledge of the small business sector in Honduras, plus the ability to formulate a business plan. During the first semester, students identify and outline a project and evaluate the economic feasibility of a proposed venture. …