Broward College celebrated being selected as the inaugural site for the Perkins V Entrepreneurship Education and Training Grant (EET).
Last month when Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $1.9 million to support entrepreneurship education and training programs at 8 state colleges and 17 school districts across the state. This funding will help students learn about how to run a small business and connect them with available opportunities in their area. The awards will create and support programs at colleges, high schools and middle schools.
The Florida Department of Education’s website says, “Florida’s Perkins V State Plan commits to creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem through career and technical education (CTE). Business equity is the second largest source of wealth behind home equity, and for special populations, self-employment and the ability to effectively create value contributes to Florida’s greater economic security.”
Broward College was selected for the accomplishments of BCEx Broward, their award-winning entrepreneurship program, a student centered accelerator program aimed at preparing students for the future of work.
A symposium was held at Broward College with approximately 125 representatives in attendance from higher education administration and faculty leadership positions across Florida who are also building and implementing entrepreneurship programs at their institutions. The two-day event was held at the Broward College Central Campus.
Guests had the honor of hearing from Broward College’s President Haile during opening remarks, as well as Senior Vice Present, Dr. Mildred G. Coyne, Ed.D. who provided her insights about the entrepreneurial movements during the expert panel. They both spoke highlighting how the Broward College Entrepreneurship Experience (BCEx) launches minority and female-led companies, contextualizes entrepreneurship across the College’s pathways, and engages a cross-curricular team to embed an entrepreneurial mindset at all levels of learning.
Imran Siddiqui
Imran Siddiqui, Associate Vice President, Employment Solutions & BCEx, wrote “When I joined Broward College 3 years ago, Mildred G. Coyne, Ed.D. handed me a white paper and tasked our small but powerful team with building an innovative and first-of-it’s-kind business accelerator that not only launches startups but also cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset in our participants and drives innovation at all levels of the college. No doubt, an ambitious goal. That’s why it was such an honor to receive this recognition.”
Siddiqui continued, “We are never satisfied and will always keep aspiring for more and better, but it’s nice to stop and celebrate a great win. This was truly a team victory.”
According to FLgov.com, Florida’s education system is now the number one in the world for entrepreneurship education and training, with more than 20,000 students earning an industry certification in Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB), mostly since 2020. Florida actually represents about half of all ESB certificates earned in the United States, since the ESB certificate was first launched in 2017.
The ESB certification is a rigorous professional exam that validates the foundational-level concepts and knowledge involved in being an entrepreneur and a small business owner. Florida, by itself, has now even surpassed the world leader, China, in ESB certificates earned by students.
To learn more about the grant and view the list of institutions receiving funding for 2022-23, click here.