Du initiative to instill business skills in students

02/09/2015 06:16 AST

Dubai-based telecom opeartor du has launched an initiative for all ambitious university students with entrepreneurship to start earning while studying.

The Agent 055 Netowrk initiative aims at nurturing and equipping univeristy students with the skills to forge the UAE's economic future as tomorrow's business leaders, said a statement.

Hala Badri, executive vice president, Brand and Communications, said: “Supporting entrepreneurship has long been one of our sustainability pillars, which this unique long-term project aims to further support.

"We are also reinforcing our support of building a robust economy – with an aim of placing the UAE among the best in the world in entrepreneurship, and unlocking the tremendous potential of both UAE national and expatriate youths.

"By instilling an entrepreneurial spirit and giving students the tools to succeed, we are empowering them to be the driving force of a knowledge-based economy.

“We urge all eligible students to apply for this incredible opportunity, and learn how to become entrepreneurs of the future.”

In an ongoing initiative to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit among the UAE youth, du is giving students the opportunity to become Agents 055.

It will give students the experience of running a business, using an established and successful model while they are still studying.

Open to university students of all nationalities in third year or above, applicants will be required to complete a set of questions and interviews that will determine eligibility.

Du will, thereafter, recruit ten students, and offer them soft skills, sales and negotiation training.

The project will combine the dual benefits of gaining training and experience by working on behalf of a reputed organisation and earning an income independently.

Unlike regular sales staff, however, students will be able to conduct sales in their own time – they will be equipped with tablets to take customer documents and activate their SIM cards in tandem with the 'My Number My Identity' campaign.

In addition, students will be supervised by du retail store managers relevant to their location, who will provide them with mentorship and advice throughout the project, said the statement.

They will also be given the opportunity to retain their earning from what they sell, just like real entrepreneurs, it said.

“By nurturing business and negotiation skills at a grassroots level, we aim to encourage entrepreneurs of the future. Our dedicated HR and training team, in line with du’s ongoing entrepreneurship learning and training initiatives, has prepared a training calendar including a range of modules that encompass products and general learning. These skills will assist students in their future careers and ventures,” Badri added.

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