Presentation of the Disciplinary Field
97% of the Belgian companies have less than 50 workers. Small and medium size companies generate more than 70% of the Gross Domestic Product. Small and medium size companies represent 41% of the workforce in Belgium. 42% of the ICHEC graduates work in companies that have less than 100 workers.
More flexible, more progressive small and medium size companies have a bigger share in the economic activity. But they also have to face harsher competitivity and management problems peculiar to their size. Specialized training is therefore necessary to future creators, managers and leaders of small and medium size companies in order to help them to base their intuition on management tools adapted to the size of the company and in order to provide their company with growth and performance.
Thanks to the centre of excellence of ICHEC - Small and Medium size companies, ICHEC has a unique expertise which is really well-known as far as the training of small and medium size company leaders and creators is concerned. The minor «Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium size companies » puts that expertise at the disposal of students who wish to create their own company, to work in a small or medium size company or to take over a family business.
Objectives of the minor and prospects
The aim of the course is to help to open up and train students to the dynamics of the management of small and medium size companies and to the creation of such companies. In order to do so, the training aims at preparing the students to manage a job with responsibilities in an already existing small and medium size company, sensitizing them to the creation of a small and medium size company, giving them the basic tools for the creation of such a company. Finally, it also aims at preparing them to act in a family company or in an expanding company. This training applies to students who have such a profile or who have a special project (a family SME, project …) and to students who would like to work in small-sized companies
Methods and particular features
. Lectures : are thought out so as to provide students with the necessary tools to deal with the peculiarities of the management of small and medium size companies as well as to give them the spirit of small and medium size companies.
They will also provide the main tools to define and set up a company project. Meeting and listening to the testimonies of managers or professionals of small and medium size companies will be essential and fundamental in the training.
. Practical work : this aspect will be part of the three courses. Students will be encouraged to work in order to respect the reality on the field either by working on real ideas of creation of companies or by working on real aspects of the management of existing small and medium size companies.
Person in charge of the Disciplinary Field
Vincent Huart