BRIEF INFO
MINESUP
Circular N° 23-0001/MINESUP/SG/DAJ/DRCU of January 13, 2023 on the national status of the Student-Entrepreneur of the Public and Private University Institutions of Cameroon
14 February 2023
On January 13, 2023, the Ministry of Higher Education (the « MINESUP »), under the authority of the Minister of State, Jacques Fame Ndongo, adopted the Circular No. 23-0001/MINESUP/SG/DAJ/DRCU on the National Status of Student-Entrepreneur in Public and Private University Institutions in Cameroon (the “Circular”). This text aims, among other things, to define the general framework for the implementation of the national student-entrepreneur status in Cameroon, to strengthen the practical training of students, and in addition to promote cooperation between innovation actors.
It appears from the Circular that the eligibility for the special status of student-entrepreneur is granted to students of any level and any specialty, regularly enrolled in a public or private university institution in Cameroon, who have a project idea and/or intend to create a business during their academic course or after obtaining their certificate.
The status of student-entrepreneur brings to its beneficiary some significant advantages, among which: (i) access to different training sessions organized within the incubators hosted at the level of the institution or of partners, (ii) the necessary flexibility in the time schedule, (iii) the support and the personalized follow-up by academic and professional supervisors, or (iv) the support in the search for funding.
It should be noted that the status of student-entrepreneur is obtained following a procedure of call for applications, and is conferred by the Head of the University Institution, on the proposal of a selection and evaluation Committee. Once this status is obtained, a charter setting out the commitments of the student-entrepreneur towards the supervisors and the Director of the incubation or pre-incubation structure is signed, and the student-entrepreneur is obliged to comply with it because in case of non-compliance with the said commitments, this status may be withdrawn. In accordance with the Circular, the national student-entrepreneur status may depending on the case be withdrawn or terminated, leading as such to the cessation of related benefits.
There exits three (03) levels of the student-entrepreneur status among which: Level 1- Initiator Student-Entrepreneur, Level 2- Innovator Student-Entrepreneur and Level 3- Promoter Student-Entrepreneur. The passage from one level to another is done after evaluation of the degree of progress of the project by an evaluation committee according to well-defined criteria. However, it is exceptionally possible for a student to be classified directly at a higher level given the level of maturity of his project.
In addition, the Circular acknowledges the need to set up a partnership network including public organizations as well as diverse financing organizations in order to better support the newly created structures.