• Eric H. •
• IRSEP - Tanzania Program •
• Entrepreneurial Management Major

Eric studied at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania for a year on the IRSEP scholarship exchange program. The program allowed him to study coursework in his major, Entrepreneurial Management, as well as set up an internship with a micro-credit institution for women starting small businesses. The experience gave him new insights into understanding the Tanzanian approach to economic development.

Eric took classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level in business and management. The learning environment was different from classrooms at the University of Minnesota, and Eric explained that students were expected to memorize material rather than think critically about the topics they studied. Eric found learning outside the classroom to be particularly valuable in understanding the history and culture of Tanzania. Friends and their families were eager to share their culture and perspectives with him. Eric explains that the best way he was able to integrate culturally was by taking a genuine interest in the people he encountered.

Outside of the university setting, Eric did an internship with FINCA International, an organization that worked to provide women with loans for small businesses. He found the internship was a learning experience and not a teaching experience. He believes it was important to understand the Tanzanian approach to business practices and was impressed by what he saw as a response to failure he hadn’t seen before. He explained that many Tanzanians he worked with expected failure in business, and when they did encounter failure, it only made them stronger and more driven to succeed. The group-orientated nature of Tanzanian culture impacted the way that they did business, and he was impressed with the networks of social entrepreneurship and wealth sharing in families and communities.

Outside of the university setting, Eric did an internship with FINCA International, an organization that worked to provide women with loans for small businesses. He found the internship was a learning experience and not a teaching experience. He believes it was important to understand the Tanzanian approach to business practices and was impressed by what he saw as a response to failure he hadn’t seen before. He explained that many Tanzanians he worked with expected failure in business, and when they did encounter failure, it only made them stronger and more driven to succeed. The group-orientated nature of Tanzanian culture impacted the way that they did business, and he was impressed with the networks of social entrepreneurship and wealth sharing in families and communities.

On the IRSEP program, Eric gained a first-hand understanding of the challenges students face at the University of Dar es Salaam. He lived alongside Tanzanian students as well as other international students in a dormitory – students rarely had running water and often the electricity would go out, making it difficult to study. “Living there you can only accomplish about one or two things a day. You have to prioritize what needs to be done and get used to the pace.”

This experience has also sparked new interests for Eric. After returning to the US and interning for a large company, he now questions whether or not that is the right path for him. He plans to continue studying East Africa and foreign languages and is considering a career in international development.