Entrepreneurship Mentorship for HCT Education Alumni to Transition as Lead Businesswomen in the UAE Education Sector

Abstract

This study investigated the status of qualified Education Alumni who were unemployed but interested in running their own businesses or taking a leadership role, particularly in the nursery sector. The study provided the alumni with an opportunity to widen their knowledge and take the initiative to save this sector, by joining an Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program (EMP). The mixed-methods approach used a first online survey to collate information on the frequency of interested graduates who wanted to join the EMP; while the second survey gathered information on their overall Bootcamp satisfaction and experiences. Also, an interview was used to obtain accurate data on the graduates’ experiences and Bootcamp improvement aspects. The results showed that the participants recommended this EMP for the education alumni and suggested involving entrepreneurs who work in the education sector to share their experiences of starting up nurseries. Also, the study indicated that the participants developed skills such as marketing and advertising that raised creativity and self-confidence. Recommendations were made to develop remote workshops for graduates that promote the significance of starting up businesses and taking leadership role among women in the UAE.