Enterprising academics take Romania by storm

An ambitious three-year scheme to export enterprise and entrepreneurship to Romania has resulted in 137 new businesses being created in the former communist country.

The ANTREMAN project, funded by the Romanian Government through the European Social Fund, saw Anglia Ruskin University’s Centre for Enterprise Development and Research (CEDAR) help launch a school for entrepreneurship and management in Bucharest.

The ANTREMAN School – established in 2010 in partnership with the National Council of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR) and the Romanian Academy of Economic Studies – has used Anglia Ruskin’s BA (Hons) in Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management as the basis for its new Masters in Entrepreneurial and Management Studies.

Over 200 students enrolled on the first year of the Masters programme which, following the structure of the Anglia Ruskin degree, is delivered by a combination of academics and entrepreneurs, including Natalie Haywood, Paddy Bishopp, Peter Taylor and Walter Herriot OBE.

The ANTREMAN School used The Big Pitch, a student competition established by Anglia Ruskin in 2011, to help the Romanians set up their own businesses. 

Crina Grigore was the winner of the first Romania Big Pitch competition held in Bucharest last month.  Her Mr Mentorus company offers a programme of mentoring and personal development courses for children, delivered through interactive, non-formal educational activities.

Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, Director of CEDAR, said: “Helping to establish 137 new businesses is a remarkable achievement by all of those involved. 

“This project has made a tangible difference not only to the students within the ANTREMAN School, but also the academics involved in delivery. 

“The ANTREMAN School sets the standard by embracing alternative ways of delivering entrepreneurship courses.  It has succeeded in embedding entrepreneurs into an academic programme in Romania for the first time.”

CEDAR, based within the Lord Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin, researches and promotes enterprise and entrepreneurialism in the UK and abroad.  It was the first university centre in the country to become an Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) Centre of Excellence, and has launched the successful Big Pitch and Little Pitch competitions to promote enterprise amongst Anglia Ruskin students.

CEDAR’s Enterprise Fellowship Scheme offers advice and support to people outside Anglia Ruskin who are looking to set up their own business.  By the end of 2013, the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme will have given away over £100,000 to help local people get their ideas off the ground.



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For more press information please contact:

Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk

Andrea Hilliard on t: 0845 196 4727, e: andrea.hilliard@anglia.ac.uk
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