Training on Entrepreneurship for Engineering & Technology Graduating Class Students
[August 14/2022, Bahir Dar - ISC/BiT-BDU]
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The training was hosted by Information and Strategic Communication (ISC) Directorate in collaboration with Business Incubation and Techno - Entrepreneurship Center (BiTec). Dr. Bimrew Tamrat, Scientific Director of BIT, opened the training, where he said the probability of being employed is currently very low, so this training is an opportunity for students to consider self-employment, cleaning the mindset for being employed in the government or non-governmental organizations. He encouraged the graduates to pursue self-employment in order to benefit both themselves and others. Dr. Bimrew finally thanked trainers, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology Alumnus, and Mr. Lema Misgan, Digital Transformation Project Manager at Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), for coming and delivering such an inspiring training for the BiT GC students on the behalf of the institute.
Following, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw presented a training on Graduates/Youth unemployment as Universities and National problem of Ethiopia, Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship for Engineering Graduates, The Role of Engineering Graduates in Industrialization and Technology Transfer or Acquisition in Ethiopia. Likewise, Mr. Leman Misgan delivered a trainings on, Major Challenges and opportunities to start business in Ethiopia, Entrepreneurship:  What Tech-business opportunities available? Where we can find startup/seed funding in Ethiopia. 
In their presentations, both trainers expressed concern about university graduates becoming unemployed. Accordingly, Ethiopia's unemployment rate is rising at a rate of 3.69%, with 2 million unemployed people entered the labor force by 2021. As a result, they showed as unemployment is currently one of Ethiopia's most pressing development issues, where Mind-set, mismatch between higher education and the labor market, a lack of effective training centers that promote self-employment/Entrepreneurship, challenges for startups, and so on were identified as major causes of such devastating problems. 
 To deal with such serious issues, they encouraged graduates to focus on self-employment, taking advantage of opportunities provided by incubation hubs, the Ministry of Labor and Skills, lease financing, idea financing, GiZ Ethiopia, UNDP, Startup Act, Ethiopian EDI, the Digital Foundation Project in MInT, and so on. They also attempted to inspire students raising the success stories of some of our countiers' self-employers, such as Daniel Mebrahtu, a BDU alumni, the founder and manager of Dan Technocrat PLC, and others.
Regarding the way forward of graduates, Engineer Gizachew and Mr. Lema emphasized that students must be prepared with what they have in mind, time management and team work, seeking information, developing a culture of saving, overcoming employment desire/mind-set, and collaborating with giant tech businesses in the market. 
Finally, after both trainers reflected on the questions raised by BiT graduate trainees, Mr. Temesgen Getnet, Director of Information and Strategic Communication Directorate, delivered a closing remark in which he stated that such type of training have key roles in changing graduates' future. He also advised the trainees to follow Engineer Gizachew's footprint, who is serving the institute in a variety of capacities after graduating from this campus. He concluded his speech by thanking the trainers on behalf of the institute and encouraging students to serve as BiT Ambassadors after they leave the compound.
Information and Strategic Communication Directorate
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