PITTSBURGH, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar today unveiled a training course for budding entrepreneurs: the Executive Entrepreneurship Certificate Program. The course will boost opportunities for creating technology start-ups in Doha, Qatar.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070425/CARNEGIELOGO ) The Executive Entrepreneurship Certificate Program aims to transform Qatar's deep investment in research and education into business success stories. The nine-month, part-time program will teach aspiring managers and executives how to build technology-based businesses by acting entrepreneurially, innovating within their existing companies or starting a new enterprise. Enrollment is open now, and the inaugural class will begin in September.
The Executive Entrepreneurship Certificate Program is run by Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business and its Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship. The center, recognized as one of the best in the world, has taught thousands of people to create new businesses, including the founder of iGate Corporation, a global IT company with nearly $400 million market capitalization. For the first time, the program is available to executives in the Middle East.
"Entrepreneurial spirit and know-how are essential for building a dynamic knowledge economy," said Eulian Roberts, QSTP's chief executive. "We have identified one of the best entrepreneurship programs from around the world to establish its activities in Doha. Carnegie Mellon's course provides exactly the right set of skills and will be tailored to the unique Middle Eastern business environment. We warmly encourage individuals and executives in Qatar and around the region to come and share the passion of creating new technology business."
"Our university has deep experience in the theory and practice of creating new enterprises, particularly in the technology sphere," added Mohammed Dobashi, chief operating officer of Carnegie Mellon Qatar. "When our dean, Chuck Thorpe, was a student at Carnegie Mellon, the man who went on to start Lycos was in the class below him. It's this kind of real-world, 'been there' experience that we are looking forward to sharing with Qatar, and to start building the Lycoses of tomorrow right here."
The program is designed for companies seeking to create new revenue streams and for entrepreneurs aiming to start their own business. It teaches skills and methods for creating technology-based ventures through practical, real-world projects. Networking is a key part of the program: Carnegie Mellon's strong reputation and loyal alumni allow it to bring in successful international investors, entrepreneurs and mentors to share their experience with students.
"Instructors in this new Executive Entrepreneurship Certificate Program have vast experience in creating companies and launching new areas of innovation within existing companies," said Arthur A. Boni, John R. Thorne Chair of Entrepreneurship and director of the Donald H. Jones Center. "Entrepreneurship can be taught, but effective teaching requires a blend of experiential learning coupled with academic rigor. This approach, pursued for many years at Carnegie Mellon, has resulted in a culture of creation and innovation that enables the successful entrepreneurial culture to be developed in leaders. Beyond that, it is also necessary to support successful entrepreneurs as part of a network of innovation. We look forward to working with QSTP to create a culture conducive to technological innovation in Qatar."
Applicants need to be located in Doha in order to attend the classes, which are scheduled outside business hours. A university degree is preferred but not mandatory, and the course is conducted in English. More information and application details can be found at http://www.qstp.org.qa/ . About the Tepper School of Business: Founded in 1949, the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon ( http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/ ) is a pioneer in the field of management science and analytical decision-making. The school's notable contributions to the intellectual community include six Nobel laureates and a consistent presence in the top tier of business school rankings. The Wall Street Journal recently ranked the Tepper School's MBA program as No. 3 in the United States. About Qatar Science & Technology Park: Qatar Science & Technology Park fosters the development and commercialization of technology in Qatar, a rising star in the Arabian Gulf with the world's third- largest gas reserves and a remarkable vision for human development. As part of the renowned Qatar Foundation, founded by the country's emir, the science park is co-located with campuses of Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Texas A&M and other premier universities. It provides research-friendly premises for companies from around the world, plus an incubator and investment for technology start-ups. Already EADS, ExxonMobil, GE, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Shell and Total have joined Qatar Science & Technology Park, and its first phase of buildings opens in late 2007. http://www.qstp.org.qa/ Tepper School of Business
CONTACT: Geof Becker, of Tepper School of Business, +1-412-268-3486, gbecker@andrew.cmu.edu ; or Noha Al Afifi, of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, +974-492-8457, nohaa@qatar.cmu.edu ; or Daniela Rush of Hill & Knowlton, daniela@hillandknowlton.com.bh , +974-581-9130; or Ben Figgis of Qatar Science & Technology Park, +974-492-7130, bfiggis@qstp.org.qa Web site: http://business.tepper.cmu.edu/ http://www.qstp.org.qa/
