15 September 2008

Partnership between Tsinghua SEM and HEC to provide a Business and Management Education to Women in China.

HEC today announces its partnership with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative.  The 10,000 Women program supports partnerships with universities and development organizations to provide a generation of women in under-served areas around the world with a business and management education.  This initiative is grounded in the belief that expanding the entrepreneurial talent and managerial pool in these economies – especially among women – is one of the most important, yet too often neglected, means of increasing economic opportunity.

HEC is proud to partner with Tsinghua School of Economics and Management in Beijing to support training for female entrepreneurs in China.

“We are honored to be a part of Goldman Sachs 10000 Women Initiative. In partnership with Tsinghua SEM, we will create an Entrepreneurship Track Program to help deserving Chinese women entrepreneurs develop knowledge, skills and networks necessary to create innovative and sustainable business in China. Our credo “The more you know, the more you dare” emphasizes the entrepreneurship spirit instilled by its programs” said Valérie Gauthier, Associate Dean of the MBA Program.

The specific program activities that will result from this partnership include the creation of an Entrepreneurship Track Program for Chinese women to become entrepreneurs. This certificate program will train underserved Chinese women who aspire to or currently operate their own business, aiming to provide them with the integrated entrepreneurial and managerial education with a global perspective.

By creating a track of specialized courses taught by Tsinghua SEM on the model of the 3 ½ month entrepreneurship track of the HEC MBA, the program aims to provide the foundation for educating women entrepreneurs with a global perspective.

With the help of HEC faculty members, the primary objective of the program is to develop women leaders in China to enhance their participation in the development of China.  As a second objective, Tsinghua SEM and HEC will share expertise in leadership and entrepreneurship to further develop business education in these fields.

The program will train 360 Chinese women entrepreneurs over 5 years. The first program is scheduled to run in Tsinghua University campus in 2009.

Through 10,000 Women, Goldman Sachs is committing $100 million to support partnerships with universities and development organizations to provide a generation of women in under-served areas around the world with a business and management education.  In the process, these partnerships will help future generations of entrepreneurs and managers by strengthening the underlying quality and capacity of business education through professor training and the development of innovative curricula and locally relevant case studies. 

“One of the powerful ideas behind 10,000 Women is educational institutions, development organizations and the private sector coming together to help address a profound challenge – driving and sharing economic growth,” said Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.  “I’m proud that these new partners, along with the people of Goldman Sachs, are committing their expertise and dedication to help 10,000 women achieve their dreams and, in the process, improve the quality and accessibility of business education for future generations of managers and entrepreneurs.”

Delivering Business and Management Education to 10,000 Women

10,000 Women is pursuing a variety of ways to provide a business and management education to under-served women.  For instance, partnering schools are collaborating to establish or expand certificate programs ranging from five weeks to six months that will include courses in marketing, accounting, market research, writing a business plan, strategic planning, accessing capital and e-commerce. These innovative certificate programs are pragmatic, flexible, and shorter-term and will help open doors for thousands of women whose financial and practical circumstances would prevent them from receiving a traditional business education.

There is also a strong focus on capacity building: developing curricula, creating local case study models and “Training the Trainers” to improve the level of faculty training and expertise as well as increasing the overall quality of business education.

More detailed information about 10,000 Women and its partnerships can be found at www.10000women.org

Goldman Sachs Corporate Engagement

10,000 Women is one of Goldman Sachs’ largest corporate engagement programs and is a reflection of the firm’s commitment to service as well as to advance the continued development of markets and economies. Other philanthropic initiatives include Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund; The Goldman Sachs Foundation, an education foundation that has made over $100 million in grants since 2000; the Goldman Sachs Center for Environmental Markets, which works with independent partners in the academic and non-governmental organization community to examine market-based solutions to environmental challenges; and The Public Service Program, a competitive global initiative that gives top employees the opportunity to work for a nonprofit organization for up to one year. In addition, more than 25,000 employees participated in the firm’s 2008 Community TeamWorks program, which provides employees a day to volunteer in team-based projects coordinated with local non-profit organizations around the world.