EARLY LEARNING

The Youth Economic Participation Initiative

Panel

Introduction to YEPICritical Institutional FactorsSupporting Emerging EntrepreneursEngaging Key CommunitiesFostering a Community of Practice

The Talloires Network

The Talloires Network is an international association of institutions committed to strengthening the civic

roles and social responsibilities of higher education.

We believe that higher education institutions do not exist in isolation from society, nor from the

communities in which they are located.

350 Members in 75 countries

Talloires Network Programs

Conferences and convenings

MacJannet Prize

Action Research Program

University Volunteers Program

Youth Economic Participation Initiative

Youth Economic Participation Initiative

Aims to elevate the role of universities in addressing youth unemployment.

1. Support universities to improve and expand innovative models enabling upper-year students and recent alumni to

accelerate their transition to employment and entrepreneurship

2. Facilitate the sharing and dissemination of knowledge through a learning partnership with the University of

Minnesota and a global Community of Practice to promote the exchange of knowledge

• Launched in 2011 with support from The MasterCard Foundation

• $5.9 million over 4.5 years

• 8 Demonstration Grants of $350,000

• One year planning process with 90 peer-to-peer interviews in 9 countries, and 10 professors participating in six-week online ‘Learning Community’

Youth Economic Participation Initiative

Mission: The MasterCard Foundation advances youth learning and promotes financial inclusion to catalyze prosperity in developing countries.

Serves 5 million people in 49 developing countries, particularly in Africa

Goals of the Foundation’s Youth Learning Program:• Scale access to education in Sub-

Saharan Africa• Develop skills of out-of-school youth• Connect youth to jobs

Youth Economic Participation Initiative

• Prioritize programs based on strong university-community partnerships with focus:

• Soft Skills – Communications, teamwork, problem-solving, public-speaking, leadership, negotiation, and creativity.

• Networks – Providing contacts, mentorships, and experience of business environment.

• Curricula reform – Collaborating with businesses to bring offerings of university in line with knowledge and skill needs of the market.

• Entrepreneurship – Teaching skills required to start a business, providing resources to support enterprise, lower risks of entrepreneurship.

8 YEPI Partner Universities on 3 continents

International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso

Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan

National University of Malaysia

Universidad Austral de Chile

University of Cape Town, South Africa

University of Rwanda

Universidad Veracruzana, Mexcio

University of Zimbabwe

Youth Economic Participation Initiative

• Three year Learning Partnership with University of Minnesota

• Learning from YEPI grantee programs will

• provide universities around the world with effective strategies for preparing students for employment and entrepreneurship

• contribute to the scholarly literature on civic engagement, graduate employability, and entrepreneurship education.

• A global Community of Practice will create a learning network of shared values, experiences and research findings

Critical Factors

Federal and State

Policies

Internal Structures

Champions

Active participation by

local entities

Access to a range of financial resources

Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs

Formal coursework

Experiential Learning

Mentoring

Incubator

Networking

Engaging Key Community Partners

Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh)

Founded in 1954 and located in Valdivia, south of

Chile

Major private employer in the region

Historically an “Anchor Institution”

A leading role in the development processes of the

region

Trying to avoid over-intervention in different

communities

Community Partners

Environmental NGO’sCultural organizationsHealth related organizationsPrimary SchoolsArtisans associationsWomen’s associationsRepresentatives from different productive

activities: fishermen, forestry, entrepreneurs

The YEPI Project at UACh

Partnership with MIT-CoLab supported by The Talloires Network

Looks to provide opportunities for students in vulnerable situations

Promotion of relational skills, self-trust and leadership

Use of non-conventional methodologies in academia, such as Karate and Dragon Dreaming

Acheivements of the YEPI Project (so far)

The Project has allowed the recognition of our practices by the university authorities

Made us more attractive to other international partners

Increased the amount of university activities in which the community is involved

Promoted international exposition and intercultural sensitivity among our staff

Now, visiting professors and profesionals also share with our community partners

TN CONNECTS: A Community of Practice

TNCONNECTS will be an online space space for people to gather and share ideas, news and resources, create new and strengthen existing

partnerships, and support the activities of regional networks of universities.

TN CONNECTS

Blog posts and updates directly from the eight universities in the Youth Economic Participation Initiative (the YEPI 8)

Moderated online discussions

Forums for discussions and exchange

Regular webinars and other online events

A collaborative online space for discussion and exchange

jennifer.catalano@tufts.eduhttp://talloiresnetwork.tufts.edu

Facebook.com/talloiresnetwork

Twitter.com/TalloiresNet

Questions?

Patricio Belloy: pbelloy@uach.cl

Jennifer Catalano: jennifer.catalano@tufts.edu

Carol Carrier: carrier@umn.edu

Ross VeLure Roholt: rossvr@umn.edu