Educators Reinvigorated at REE Latin America

By mtharvey | November 1, 2010

The Roundtable on Entrepreneurship Education Latin America conference was an astounding success by all measures. The sold-out conference, held in Lima, Peru, brought together regional and global educators to share strategies, ideas, and research on education’s role in bolstering entrepreneurship. From October 19-21, conference attendees took part in interactive workshops, experienced keynote presentations from entrepreneurship leaders, and networked with fellow colleagues. This year’s REE Latin America conference focused on the significant development of entrepreneurial ventures related to the host region’s unique cultural characteristics. An example would be the growing opportunities to re-invent agribusiness throughout Latin America.

However, the region is also deeply engaged in an effort to build an entrepreneurial mindset throughout all industries and sectors. [quote_right]“You need [to use] entrepreneurial thinking to teach entrepreneurial thinking.”[/quote_right]To do this, according to conference presenter Heidi Neck, professor of entrepreneurial studies at Babson College, education must play a key role if entrepreneurial efforts are to take hold. However, Professor Neck also sees this as a challenge to academics as, “You need [to use] entrepreneurial thinking to teach entrepreneurial thinking.” The world’s current economic environment clearly highlights the need for increases in entrepreneurship on all continents, particularly due to entrepreneurship’s multiplying effects on economic development.

STVP, along with the warm hospitality of the Center of Entrepreneurship at Universidad ESAN, co-hosted the conference. Beyond the invaluable education and networking opportunities, REE Latin America provided attendees access to a myriad of opportunities to engage Peru’s culture. Activities included learning about pisco (Peru’s tasty national drink), which is booming in worldwide popularity, and even making visits to the ancient destinations of Cusco and Machu Picchu. All of these activities added an additional dimension to the experience of attending REE Latin America, by providing a regional context for the knowledge gained on how to increase entrepreneurship education throughout the world.

Registration is now open for REE Asia, taking place in January. And REE conferences will be taking place in the Middle East and Washington, D.C., within the next six months. Learn more about REE.

Take a peek inside the 2010 REE Latin America conference.


mtharvey