A stylish final stroke in shaping a businessperson’s future
Economic School in Moldova creates an Academic Business Incubator to help new generations of fresh students turn into strong entrepreneurs
Grooming new jobless graduates was not his dream. Grigore Belostecinic is at odds with fate being the rector of the strongest business university in Europe’s weakest economy. Recent surveys show that in this Eastern-European country the highest unemployment rates are found among the young. The Moldovan youths have to choose between accepting a low-paid job at home and leaving in search for a better chance abroad. Finding a suitable job abroad is not usually a problem for young talented high-skilled graduates but watching them leave was a problem for Mr. Belostecinic, the rector of ASEM (Economic Studies Academy of Moldova).
ASEM’s student association – ANTIM – was one of the beneficiaries of USAID BIZPRO/Moldova’s Business Incubator Program. A Business Incubator (BI) is a facility that provides space, logistic and consulting to start-up businesses. USAID BIZPRO/Moldova’s task was to stimulate new business development and growth by strengthening the Moldavian Business Incubator sector through the introduction and support of international best practices for incubation operations. To accomplish this USAID BIZPRO/Moldova used a combination of targeted technical assistance and study tours to establish solid local experiences in implementing best international practices, including experience of Central European countries.
The first trainings, in May 2002 and June 2003 were focused on what is a Business Incubator, the role of business incubation, how to manage a BI, especially in Moldavian environment. It was organized by USAID BIZPRO with assistance of a pioneer in business incubation, member of International Business Incubation Association,- Ms. June Lavelle from the USA.
The next step was organizing a study tour to Poland in October 2002. By taking part in this activity, Mr. Belostecinic had the chance to visit 15 Business Incubators (BI), including innovation and academic BI’s organized by Polish Universities.
Three years from that trip he wears a beatific smile while offering the keys from the offices of the first Academic Business Incubator in Moldova to his students. “The idea came to me some years ago while being Poland, where I visited a lot of Business Incubators, including academic ones. By opening this facility we offer our students the chance to open a business and to develop it under the guidance of our professors. After becoming strong enough they will let their place to other novices in business.” says the rector.
The ASEM students submitted more than 100 business plans when the contest for a place in BI was announced. In the final stage four companies out of twelve were selected - Web Consulting, Intelligent Partnership, Impuls Media and Hiper Reduceri. The junior businessmen chose to start their careers in IT, advertising and business consulting. From providing guidelines in establishing BI’s activity, USAID BIZPRO/Moldova keeps on assisting the incubated companies by having an expert in the BI Mentors Council.
“I feel a lot of responsibility weighing on me. The future of such projects in Moldova depends on our performance. It’s inspiring.” told Dumitru Lungu, a start-up businessman making the first step into his first office.
