Introduction

British Council Sri Lanka, as part of its wider work in higher education, is working in collaboration with the National Enterprise Development Authority, Sri Lanka to review and revamp its Graduate Enterprise Programme. The programme carried out at national level and fully funded by the government attracts over 700 applications. The applicants are taken through a series of workshops, training and mentoring on various aspects of business startup over a period of 3 months and are required to submit business proposals which are then evaluated by a panel comprising of local bankers and representatives of enterprise development sector.

The programme was launched in 2014 and to-date The National Enterprise Development Authority has awarded over 50 winners with funding to start-up their businesses.

British Council together with the National Enterprise Development Authority is looking to further enhance this programme and is seeking interest from a UK university that has experience in developing enterprise programmes for graduates to review the current programme on offer and to submit its recommendations for development.

Objectives

Review and enhance the current programme and activities of the Graduate Enterprise Programme organised by the National Enterprise Development Authority.

Deliverables

• Review the current programme and activities
• Recommendations to enhance programme content
• Recommendations on how British Council can add value to the existing programme for 2017/2018
• Provide training on commercialising innovation to 25 -30 district officers of National Enterprise Development Authority

Benefits to the UK partner

• Opportunity to demonstrate UK expertise in graduate entrepreneurship and commercialising innovation.
• Fee for services rendered

Timeline

15 September – 15 November 2017