"Return-ability" -
Our Three-Fold Mission
One of the main purposes of BYU-Hawai'i is to train moral, capable leaders that can return to their respective homelands and influence society for good. In support of this ambition, our goal at the CIE is to empower each CIE student with an enlarged vision of what he or she can individually accomplish, and the courage, assurance and confidence necessary to seek out and better their respective lives through entrepreneurship in their home countries. This goal is achieved through our Three-Fold Mission:
1. Provide practical and essential theoretical education in the basic skills of entrepreneurship.
The curriculum consists of basic courses for the education and development of potential entrepreneurs at BYU-Hawai'i and at the Distance Learning Centers of Asia and the Pacific. The courses cover the fundamental principles and skills required to successfully create and run a business. They address the essential aspects of finance, accounting, marketing, record keeping, management, and operations. In addition, the curriculum gives hands-on experiences outside the classroom, where all students have the opportunity to develop and operate an actual business.
2. Maintain a mentoring network of experienced and ethical business professionals.
The CIE has established local mentoring networks to give personalized support to our graduates in the creation and operation of their businesses. Many small businesses are ill conceived and poorly executed and, as a result, fail within their first year. A substantial cause of these failures is insufficient expert support for the new entrepreneurs. Using alumni, ecclesiastical leaders, and other friends of BYU-Hawai'i, a network of business mentors is continually expanding to meet the needs of the CIE and each Distance Learning Center. Mentors receive extra benefits for their voluntary services, such as, executive training seminars, entrepreneurship conferences, special outings for networking and many BYU-Hawai'i events.
3. Organize, run and fund business plan competitions at BYU-Hawai'i and in developing nations of Asia and the Pacific.
Participation in these competitions serves as a capstone exercise for students who have completed the Center program. The preparation and presentation of a business plan uses all of the analytical skills and knowledge obtained through the coursework and mentoring program. The business plan competition also serves as a valuable means for the graduates to present sustainable business plans to academicians and potential funding entities. Armed with a professional business plan, our graduates can enter the funding arena with a clear understanding of their potential business opportunity, a demonstrable advantage in their search for appropriate funding.
Through our newly established Mentoring Venture Capital Fund , graduates may receive funding for their approved enterprises, while donating entrepreneurs and friends may receive special income tax advantages.
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