News

Durham Business School launches enterprising new MA

(13 December 2005)

New generation gain skills for entrepreneurial success. A new MA in Entrepreneurship has been launched by Durham Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship – the first course of its type in the North East.

The move comes as the Chancellor sets out his own plans to improve the country’s crop of talented young entrepreneurs through new Enterprise Summer Schools. The scheme announced in November will see a series of Summer Schools set up across the country in 2006 as part of the Government’s push to boost the role entrepreneurs play in Britain’s economy. Durham Business School has long been at the leading edge of entrepreneurial thinking in the UK and has called for greater investment in identifying and developing people’s skills in this area. This was highlighted at the recent Nascent Entrepreneurship Conference, where experts from around the world gathered in Durham to discuss how best to encourage more entrepreneurial thinking and action. Now, Durham Business School has moved to meet the need for more formal training with its MA in Entrepreneurship. The MA has been designed specifically to help postgraduates and people already working in regional businesses to improve their entrepreneurial skills. The one year, full-time programme covers all the key aspects of entrepreneurship - from the role that it plays in a modern advanced economy to its importance in starting and growing a new business. Students will also learn how entrepreneurial attitudes and thinking can be used to improve the way public, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations work. Simon Parker, professor of economics and entrepreneurship at Durham Business School, believes it is vital to start equipping people with the skill sets to become better entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurial activity has a seminal role to play in the economic regeneration of the North East and business people need to understand its importance. “Durham Business School is at the leading edge of thinking in this area and has moved to meet the need for greater formal academic training with this course.” Professor Tony Antoniou, Dean of Durham Business School, added: “Our programmes are of the highest standard, highly regarded and very popular. “We place considerable emphasis on personal development, ‘soft skills’ that are critical to today’s employers. “We ensure that programmes are practically relevant by developing links with the business community. I’m sure the new MA in Entrepreneurship will be a success.” The MA in Entrepreneurship is part of a range of postgraduate and executive education courses on offer at Durham Business School. The School works with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support the development of an enterprising economy and society. It offers custom education, development and, bespoke consultancy solutions to organisations and solutions are developed in close partnership with clients. These may be programmes, projects, research or, consultancy. A range of accredited and non-accredited open programmes are also available to executives.

• www.dur.ac.uk/dbs