THE School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), at the University of Guyana (UG) is calling for partnerships with the local business community to promote learning opportunities and to hone the sector here.

Speaking to persons from the local business community at the recent Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s business forum, lecturer of entrepreneurship at SEBI, Diana Gobin highlighted: “We would like internship opportunities for our students; you out there you have the businesses and we would like our students to be interns in your business.”

Moreover, Gobin called for partnerships between the businesses and the students where there can be a ‘two-way’ flow of training. She explained that ideally it would be beneficial to have students benefit from on-the-job training, business persons of themselves can go to SEBI for training.

“What we also have to note, is that you don’t have to register for an entire programme, you can come and register for a single course,” she explained and highlighted that once persons meet the university’s requirements, this single course will only last about 13 weeks.

Gobin also noted that the school is willing to facilitate “guest lecturers” where persons in the business community, with their wealth of practical business operations can come and edify students of the school. This would be particularly beneficial in helping students understand the local business climate, the lecturer posited.

Adding to this, would be the facilitation of company tours where students would again be exposed to businesses and their operations in the local context.

And finally, Gobin stressed, “Our students don’t come and learn theory,” and instead affirmed, “[We] actually have practically things to do.” To this end, she shared that the students come up with new and innovative products and solutions which can be produced for and sold by local businesses.