GILGIT, Karakoram International University (KIU) in Gilgit-Baltistan has initiated a student microenterprise development program (MED) aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among students. Dr. Mehfooz Ullah, Assistant Professor of Business Management Programs and head of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) at KIU, has been instrumental in this effort after participating in the USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA).
According to The University of Utah, the MED initiative, part of HESSA, equips officials from partner higher education institutions with the tools and knowledge to create environments conducive to student-led microenterprise development. Dr. Ullah and his colleagues have engaged with successful global models during the program, adapting these practices to the local context to instill entrepreneurship skills among KIU students.
Dr. Ullah noted that the association with HESSA had induced positive changes within the university’s system, particularly in the development of student microenterprise over the past year. Despite previous knowledge of incubation and entrepreneurship at KIU, the practical application of these concepts has been enhanced through HESSA’s training.
KIU’s traditional approach to business incubation, which was aligned with research commercialization, has been transformed through insights gained from a HESSA-organized study tour to Indonesia. This tour included a workshop and visits to multiple Indonesian universities, where Dr. Ullah observed successful MED applications.
Post-training, Dr. Ullah facilitated a structural separation of business incubation from ORIC and the subsequent launch of the MED program under the new framework, now operating as an independent institution within KIU.
The MED program’s initial application cycle in 2023 exceeded expectations, with over 350 applications received, substantially surpassing the anticipated 15-20. This surge in interest underscores the program’s resonance with the student body and the eagerness of international and local organizations to collaborate with KIU on implementing the MED model.
Dr. Ullah emphasized that while there is a burgeoning trend of microenterprises in Gilgit-Baltistan, convincing degree-holding students to embark on small, potentially non-innovative business ventures remains challenging. KIU’s MED program, therefore, focuses on instilling the value of entrepreneurship at a foundational level, encouraging students to contribute value to the market or society with modest beginnings.
To facilitate this, Dr. Ullah led outreach across university departments, raising awareness and guiding student business propositions. This groundwork laid the foundations for collaboration with external institutions, resulting in financial and technical support for student enterprises, including bootcamps and co-working spaces.
The outcomes of HESSA’s MED initiative at KIU have been significant, with the launch of a dedicated six-month MED program that attracted a remarkable number of student applications and resulted in the selection and funding of eight startups. Moreover, a specialized entrepreneurship course has been introduced, complemented by entrepreneurship bootcamps.
Following HESSA’s guidance, KIU has restructured ORIC and business incubation as separate entities, leading to immediate successes such as securing funding from entities like the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and Accelerate Prosperity. KIU’s initiatives extend beyond MED to encompass student leadership, financial aid, mental well-being, and alumni engagement, contributing to the holistic development of students and society at large.