New curricula needed to boost entrepreneurship — experts

AMMAN — Revamping school curricula and university syllabuses to nurture innovative thought and entrepreneurial skills is necessary to boost personal and collective economic productivity, experts said on Tuesday. 

But more technical, financial and legislative incentives are needed, they agreed.

Speaking on a panel at Al Rai Centre for Studies, Maysoon Zu’bi, secretary general of the Higher Population Council (HPC), highlighted the need to invest in the younger generation and to boost their economic participation.

Investing in Jordan’s youth will bring positive returns, she said, noting that the HPC would revisit its plan to set up performance indicators. 

Zu’bi said youth would be a priority in 2017, and that the council would benefit from the successful experiences of other countries in this field. 

Jordan Chamber of Industry Director Maher Mahrouq said an education system that promotes innovation, along with the suitable infrastructure and a flexible banking sector, were all essential components of an efficient entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He said Jordan’s performance in international indices related to entrepreneurship and business in general needs to be worked on, both by the private and public sectors.

The industrialist said 98.4 per cent of businesses in Jordan hire 100 employees or fewer, adding that small- and medium-sized enterprises contribute around 35 per cent of the gross domestic product, and form 70 per cent of the workforce in the private sector.

Meanwhile, he highlighted a need for more entrepreneurs with technical and vocational skills.

While business registration is easy, obtaining a licence requires several steps, some of which could be facilitated, Mahrouq said, adding that home-based businesses should be encouraged further. 

Meanwhile, Development and Employment Fund (DEF) Director General Abdullah Freij said the fund encourages innovative projects and entrepreneurialism through loans and technical training.

He noted that 65 per cent of the fund’s beneficiaries were under 40 years of age, and that 30 per cent were university and community college graduates.

Freij highlighted the geographical reach of DEF programmes across the Kingdom, noting that only 22 per cent of the overall loan value was located in the capital. 

Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition Executive Director Abdelraheem Abual Basal said universities should be the hub for enhancing innovation and creativity among young Jordanians. 

Lana Mubaideen, CEO of Rethinkers, a company that designs and evaluates innovation programmes, said a study had found that students’ creativity levels increased threefold after three months of training.