Entrepreneurship is widely regarded as an engine for change and prosperity. Several studies have drawn attention to the fact that entrepreneurship is the most important aspect of economic growth in the areas of creating jobs, introducing innovation, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology, and improving the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Many Universities around the world have established facilities to facilitate their students’ business ideas by offering various entrepreneurial academic and non-academic courses/programs, incubations to nurture student business ideas, and in many cases provide funding/seed capital to transform student business ideas into actual businesses. University is considered as a favorable environment for innovation due to its high concentration of intellectual capital and knowledge, where future entrepreneurs can arise among the students. The commercialization of the universities’ innovation and research becomes the central strategy in the national level to drive the economic growth and development. Today, universities are playing a vigorous role to enhance and encourage the knowledge-based economies.

Believing in the importance of this role, and to actively contribute to the growth of this sector, as well as support those in charge, and drive the sector to higher levels of achievement, the University of Nizwa established the Entrepreneurship Center that aspires to be a hub of research, education and services that support this sector with sound solutions based on research results. The University of Nizwa Entrepreneurship Center (UoNEC) was established and activated in September 2019 by a decision from the Chancellor. UoNEC is one of the academic support centers at the University of Nizwa and it has four main strategies; supporting entrepreneurship education, promoting entrepreneurship research, enhancing the capacity building and building collaboration with entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Center shall also spread awareness of entrepreneurial thought and practice among youngsters and youth. In order to provide quality research in this important sector, based on globally accepted indicators, and to adopt best practices, the Center joined the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and it is becoming the anchor for Oman GEM report. Every academic year, the UONEC supporting the College of Economics, Management and Information System to teach and train around 1000 students to prepare their business plan. The Center has established the Incubation Unit and the Entrepreneurship Consultation Clinic to promote the entrepreneurship culture and capacity building for the University’s students. Every year, the UONEC is participated with the global in celebrating with the Global Entrepreneurship Week with many activities and workshops.

With the University’s ardent desire to inspire, innovate and empower entrepreneurial excellence in Oman, and achievement of Oman Vision 2040, the Entrepreneurship Center will facilitate the coordination and cooperation of all entrepreneurial initiatives across the University and the entrepreneurial ecosystems locally and globally.