On the 10th of December YMCB organised an online research webinar on Financial Education for better Access to Finance for Migrant and Refugee Entrepreneurs. The purpose of this webinar was to translate the outputs of the guide on “Financial Education for better Access to Finance for Migrant and Refugee Entrepreneurs” to possible outcomes for any professional and vocational education and discuss the results with the peers. The guide was developed by The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) within the framework of the YMBC project.
Approximately 20 to 25 participants, invited by the Research Group New Finance of THUAS, attended and discussed together the guide with two of the three co-authors. The general idea behind the guide is aimed at creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
After a short introduction, various aspects of the guide were explained during the webinar in order to provide an ‘informed’ picture of the content and scope of this guide. The insights and experiences of the participants were valuable inputs for the intended qualified discussion during this session. For that reason, the panelists introduced three ‘discussion points’ during the presentation, on which the participants could react via the chat facility. The main part of the webinar was reserved for the open debate and exchange after the introductory presentation.
The intended and realized outcome was to discuss the benefits of a reversed education process from program- based to client-based. The result is an actual tailor-made program. Participants welcomed this approach. Especially in times in which lectures are transformed into the virtual space, the personal needs of students will be wrongfully submerged. The idea and the approach of switching to student-based programs is worthwhile examining.
Lecturing staff within THUAS are struggling with the need to change professional and vocational education into a more client-based approach, but do not yet know how. Some international programs implemented for instance personas to reflect the near- future job options for their students.
Some of the attendees questioned the idea of using only three personas since it might not cover all types of refugee/ migrant entrepreneurs. Besides, framing clients within certain types might run the risk of jumping into conclusions.
The question was also raised whether due attention was given to more fully integrated migrant entrepreneurs (second/ third generation).
We promised to look into this matter.
Julie- Marthe Lehmann & Albert Coumans
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
