Maltese women have the opportunity to enrol in a course for female entrepreneurship through a collaboration between Women Directors in Malta and the American Embassy.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a facilitated online programme developed by Thunderbird School of Global Management, one of the best management schools in the US and part of Arizona State University.

The 13-week course covering fundamentals like planning, marketing, pricing, managing and funding is committed to providing women with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to establish and grow their business.

The AWE includes online lectures, case studies, workshops and networking sessions, and is due to start in April. The course is fully sponsored by the US Government.

Participants from Malta will be able to join 70 other countries around the world taking part in this global programme, who will be provided with the opportunity to further their business skills, learn from mentors, and develop their business plans.

After graduation they will become members of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Exchange Alumni Database.

This provides four main benefits: mentorship opportunities, networking with thousands of alumnae worldwide; access to other US programmes; and access to more funding opportunities.

The 13 modules, which can be followed online weekly at one’s leisure and take around two hours to complete, cover the full process of developing an idea into a business.

Every two weeks participants can meet the AWE’s facilitators, who will provide information related to the local scene.

A competition will also award the three most innovative and creative ideas with Seed Funds of $2,000 each (or the equivalent in Euro).

Applicants must be women over 18 with a business idea who have a good working level of English and basic computer skills. They must also be able to commit a minimum of three hours a week to the AWE.

Interested women should send an application together with a motivational letter to [email protected] by the 22nd March.

More information can be found here.