Small businesses in Malta could be a source for new jobs and employment. Their owners, though experienced in their trade, are sometimes on the wrong side of the digital divide. If they had greater access to training in information technology and adapted the right solutions in their businesses, would they grow faster and create more and better jobs?

The Sunday Times asked John Muscat, ICT lecturer at MCAST Institute of Information and Communications Technology and Laura Schembri, ICT teacher from ICTLC - Information, Communication and Technology Learning Centre, currently implementing ICT in primary schools, who both attended a five-day intensive course in HP Microenterprise Acceleration Programme (MAP) in Lyon, France, about the training course to teach individuals of small businesses.

"Together with other participants from around the world, we attended a 'Training of Training' (TOT) course, whereby we were guided through different methodologies of delivering the HP MAP Curriculum to other trainers and to the actual micro entrepreneurs (small businesses)," explained John Muscat and Laura Schembri.

"Our week started off 'wearing the hat' of the micro-entrepreneurs, whereby we had the chance to understand the point of view of these 'small-business' people, the problems they face, the everyday challenges they meet, and the IT solutions that could be used to help them in different scenarios.

"...Later on during the week... we undertook the roles of trainers. We were given the opportunity to analyse the different possible techniques of delivering this material to individuals who have some business background but lack confidence when using computers. Through various workgroups, exercises, reviews, presentations and debriefs, we were able to come up with different ways of effectively 'hand-holding' our students so that they learn the basic skills necessary. Once we started to appreciate the situation of small-business people better, we started focusing on those skills and issues that will be of particular relevance to the typical student we are going to start working with.

"Our training was concluded through a final presentation in the presence of Didier Philippe, HP Director for Philanthropy and Social Investments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

The MAP training course was made possible through the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Information and Technology (MIIIT) and was organised, paid and supported by HP. HP has also developed the MAP curriculum.

Microenterprise refers to one-owner businesses or small business in the economy of a country. "Although these businesses offer a lot of potential, they may at times lack the appropriate human and financial resources to survive the harsh competition by other 'giants' or even to position and expand their business in a particular market," remarked Mr Muscat.

Being an ICT lecturer, John Muscat feels that through the HP MAP, he has developed his personal lecturing and facilitation skills. "I found that a good number of the techniques explored during the course can be validly applied to my everyday duties. Besides, we were also given the opportunity to avail ourselves of the MAP Curriculum training material, which obviously goes along well with the personal experience we have received in this sector," he continued.

MIIIT through its HelloIT programme and in collaboration with NGOs, and with the support of HP, Microsoft, Maltacom, Enemalta and Water Service Corporation has set up four Community Technology and Learning Centres in Malta. These centres currently provide basic ICT courses, Internet access, personalised e-Government services, and ICT job counselling. They are located at ACCESS centre in Cottonera, the National Council of Women in Blata-l-Bajda, the Eden Foundation Complex at the Bulebel industrial estate, and the recently opened learning centre at Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) in Floriana. The training programmes are specialised, focusing mostly on the specific needs of the participants including people with disabilities, housewives, young disadvantaged people and many others.

MIIIT is planning to introduce the HP MAP curriculum at these centres and at other new centres which will be set up in the near future. Mr Muscat went on to say that the HP MAP course is aimed at those individuals who have a business background and also some basic experience in the use of computers. "In actual fact this curriculum caters for a vast array of participants ranging from prospective sole-traders to well established businessmen, as it relates to simple technological applications that can be applied to everyday tasks involved in the running of a business.

"Considering the fact that even a household or any other institution may also be classified as an 'enterprise' involving thousands of operations and everyday jobs, this MAP curriculum can easily be adapted to suit the technological needs of people coming from different sectors and levels of society in their daily life."

In all there will be 10 HP MAP centres in Malta, while other centres are being opened in Italy, France, Germany, Israel, the Middle East, and Africa.

When Mr Muscat and Ms Schembri were asked if they would encourage small entrepreneurs to follow the MAP course at the Community Technology and Learning Centres, they immediately replied: "We definitely encourage the Maltese micro entrepreneurs to follow the MAP course as it provides an excellent opportunity for them to discover how simple tools can be used to become more efficient in their business operations, enhance their corporate image and automate a good number of manual operations."

"We have personally come across various businesses who lack differentiation in the products and services they offer due to under-exploitation of the technology they have at hand. Thus such courses would certainly help them in overcoming this barrier and actually save time and reduce costs even in the short-run. So we would definitely suggest micro enterprises to go for it."

"The Community Technology and Learning Centres are a good initiative, increasing further the possibility for the Maltese society to acquire further knowledge and skill in this world of computers and technological innovations," concluded Mr Muscat and Ms Schembri.

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