A new project has begun teaming Victoria University business students with African-Australian immigrants who are running small businesses.
The Tailored Learning Project was inspired by the fact that many new immigrants from Africa, unable to find work, start their own micro-businesses. The ventures often struggle due to lack of business knowledge and unfamiliarity with the Australian context.
A $54,000 community wellbeing grant from the Ian Potter Foundation is helping Victoria University develop a program tailored to the needs of these business operators.
Twenty businesspeople and six VU students of African background will be recruited for the 12-month project, in partnership with the African Australian Small Business Association.
Association president Mohamed Abdulrahman said the project was a boost to local business. “We’re committed to the success of small business starters in our community, but our resources and expertise are very limited,” he said.
VU College of Business senior lecturer Rafael Paguio said the project would go beyond the traditional offering of business training and give the students valuable real-world business experience.
“They will develop skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and self-confidence to improve their graduate employability,” Dr Paguio said.
