Mashrou3i is enriching the curricula of higher education institutions across Tunisia through the innovative tools and concepts of HP LIFE. Since the start of the project more than 220 educators from higher education institutions have been trained to integrate HP LIFE into their curricula.
Mohamed Ali Khenissi, an assistant professor at the Higher Institute for Technological Studies in Medenine, is one of these educators who is leveraging HP LIFE to support a new generation of young entrepreneurs.
“In 2017 I had just finished my PhD thesis on distance learning platforms, when I discovered the Mashrou3i project and its HP LIFE e-Learning programme for students through a colleague and friend at ISET Siliana.”
Mohamed Ali is passionate about technology and is dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among his students.
“I joined the team of university teachers trained by Mashrou3i experts in the HP LIFE learning method, a free online programme that helps build IT and entrepreneurship skills,” he explains. “During workshops I received pedagogical training to introduce students to the 32 courses of the HP LIFE e-Learning platform and, above all, to integrate certain modules of the platform into my own university courses. In my case, I have been able to enrich my courses ‘Web Development’ and ‘Cloud Computing’ with the HP LIFE modules ‘How to create a website’ and ‘How to sell online’.”
This integration has been very beneficial to Khenissi’s students, who before this had little knowledge or interaction with the field of entrepreneurship.
“It was a real revolution for my students. They discovered a new pedagogy, based on online tools and interactive, practical content. Each course presents a real-life challenge which is enriched by story telling, technological solutions and business concepts. Students can study online in their own time, at their own pace and get a certificate once they complete a course.”
The integration of HP LIFE courses has been enhanced through the localization of content. Together with educators and students, Mashrou3i developed a series of mini business cases on Tunisian entrepreneurs. These case studies supplement course materials and are designed to inspire and motivate students with real life success stories from entrepreneurs in their immediate surroundings. Entrepreneurship workshops organized by the Mashrou3i project also helped to promote an entrepreneurial spirit among students, support business creation and improve employability skills.
“The student workshops have had a very positive impact on the thinking of the students who are actively learning to develop a vision for their future. With the leadership skills acquired during these HP LIFE workshops, they are no longer afraid of unemployment and are confident that they have the ability to create their own businesses in the future.”
With the restrictions linked to the Covid crisis, Mohamed Ali had to think creatively to help students interested in joining the distance learning workshops. He opened several labs at the institute to provide them with a stable internet connection that also met social distancing requirements.
“These workshops are a real source of inspiration for the students who, in the space of two weeks, develop a new entrepreneurial mindset: they conceive a successful project idea thanks to design thinking, develop their own BMCs, and pitch their ideas in front of a jury of entrepreneurship experts – a real challenge that also helps get them out of their comfort zone.”
Following these workshops, many students go on to launch and realize their projects with the support of their educator and coaches specialized in launching startups. The second edition of Mashrou3i’s online Business Challenge will take place in September – stay tuned to discover the innovative business ideas of the next generation of Tunisia’s young entrepreneurs!