Context:
Developing nations are scarcely integrated into the global market; small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) often do not possess an international outlook. This leads to few opportunities to enter cooperations with both the EU and Germany. Furthermore, many executives are insufficiently qualified for modern management. This inhibits sustainable corporate growth and, thereby, a self-sustaining economic development in the partner countries.
The causes for the situation outlined above lie, among others, in the insufficient (further) education opportunities concerning capacity development of int’l management competence (e.g. in terms of int’l marketing, knowledge of trade procedures with the EU, int’l standards etc.). Furthermore, only few managers have int’l experience and knowledge of business customs in an int’l context.
Objective:
The Global Business Exchange Programme (GloBus) latches onto this context; its main goal is: "The entrepreneurial and institutional competitiveness of selected developing nations is structurally improved and the economic relations with Germany are fortified". The increased involvement of the German private sector in the partner countries via bilateral cooperations between SME, as well as the enlargement of the further education opportunities of education facilities in the partner countries promote a sustainable economic development.
Assessment indicators:
1. At least 25 participating SME of each partner country have established or fortified contacts with German companies which they rate positively. At least 15 specific cooperation projects have been established per country.
2. In every country, at least one of the education facilities has incorporated topics concerning int’l economic cooperation via practice- and action-orientated modules into their range of further education courses by the end of the programme. Other education facilities are in the process of incorporating such modules into their curricula.
Approach
The methodological approach of the programme calls for enlarging the capacities in further education in management topics through the qualification and development of cooperations with the German economy through which dialogue, (further) education, as well as the establishment of networks is strengthened.
The programme follows various lines of intervention: a) Strengthening of management competences of senior and middle managers through further education, dialogue and networking and b) the qualification of education facilities close to business to enhance their management education. Several formats of human capacity building are employed for this. These are, for example, qualification measures for trainers of management training facilities and adaptation of curricula. In order to become acquainted with one another and to establish business relations, B2B trips to Germany are regularly held for senior executives from the partner countries, as well as the corresponding middle managers with the aim to develop collaborative projects.
Results:
The immediate results of the programme are that a) staff and trainings of management training facilities in the partner countries are apt for int’l demands, b) middle and senior managers of SMEs are adequately qualified and c) decision makers of SMEs in the partner countries have improved knowledge of German business customs, market potentials etc. and managers of partner corporations in Germany have improved knowledge of market opportunities in developing countries.
The long-term results of the programme are that high-quality courses for managers are regularly offered without need for external support. Through increased economic cooperation between enterprises, value chains are created, standards are adapted and sustainable economic development in select developing countries is supported. The entrepreneurial and institutional competitiveness of selected developing nations is thus structurally improved and the economic relations with Germany are fortified.