Three years ago we have started cooperation with one of the most prestigious American universities – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), which is at the forefront of entrepreneurial education in the United States. The result of that collaboration is the creation of the Entrepreneurs Without Borders – EWoB organisation.
In that period a visit of a large number of American students to the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek was organised. During their stay in Osijek, a range of visits to organisations that contribute to promotion of entrepreneurial spirit and self-employment was organised (Centre for Entrepreneurship Osijek, Business Incubator BIOS, Savings and Loan Union NOA, etc.). Together with students of the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, American students have participated in consulting classes and were involved in providing counselling and consulting services to several successful small businesses from the area of the City of Osijek.
Collaboration has continued in the following years through visits of our students to the UIUC. The programme of the visit was focused on determining the possibilities for connecting American and Croatian entrepreneurs in the field of franchising, and application of American franchises in Croatia, but also of Croatian franchises in the USA, conditions of micro-crediting, and the possibilities for increasing students’ entrepreneurial activities, etc.
We regularly participate in the marking of the Global Entrepreneurship Week and the European SME Week. We are trying to bring the world entrepreneurship closer to students by organising various workshops and round tables.
Organisation continues with work this year, and we are preparing for another visit of American students, when a competition in consulting form small and medium-sized enterprises will be organised.
Objectives of the association are to:
- Contribute to the development of entrepreneurial university
- Connect and cooperate with other student, youth and similar organisations at the J.J. Strossmayer University in Osijek and beyond
- Promote of entrepreneurial thinking and action in all social contexts
