This Tuesday we had the pleasure of welcoming 13 motivated participants at the CEWAS Centre in Willisau. The young entrepreneurs come from all over the world: USA, Italy, Singapore, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Switzerland. Several participants live in the canton of Lucerne and seek to base their Start-Ups in the region. At CEWAS, the entrepreneurs get support with the development of their businesses which aim to market products and services for the sustainable use of the resource water and to solve sanitation issues at the international level.

Studying at CEWAS – in collaboration with Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

The CEWAS Start-Up Training Programme in Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management (SSWM) is now accredited by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Through the collaboration with the Institute of Management and Regional Economics (IBR), cewas participants can now acquire up to 15 credits points (ECTS) for related degrees.

The programme is aimed at students who are enrolled in a Master’s degree or PhD programme in environmental studies/engineering, sustainable development, economy or other appropriate formations. Trainings not only cover technical aspects of Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management, but also business development, practical experience (internship) and international management issues. The programme is divided into three separate courses, which can be taken individually.

Further information and detailed course plan: http://www.cewas.org/index.php/news/cewas-start-up-programme-is-now-ects-accredited/

The application period for admission to courses B and C of the Start-Up Programme is still open!

Course B: Business development in Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management

(5 ECTS), starting May 7th 2012. The course covers individual coaching for business model and business plan generation in order to help students developing a structured business model for their own Start-Up idea and a full-fledged business plan.

Course C: Operating and managing a business in the sanitation and water sector

(7 ECTS), starting June 25th 2012. The course aims at the implementation of the students’ concepts (business model & business plan) in order to found their own company. The participants learn how to manage a project or business (including accounting/financial management) in the field of Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management, improve their networking, marketing and acquisition skills and implement a project (case study) in an internship.

For all information on the programme and the application procedure, please visit our website http://www.cewas.org/index.php/training-centre/application/