director of the Center for Rural Research/Development, 308.865.8199
UNK- “Traveling and Studying the Business and Economy of South Africa,” is the focus of two presentations Thursday, Nov. 20, being given as part of the observance of Global Entrepreneurship Week on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, according to Deborah Murray, director of the UNK Center for Rural Research and Development.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Ball, an instructor in the Department of Management, Marketing and Administrative Systems at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, will speak at 11 a.m. in the Ockinga Seminar Center on the UNK West Campus and again at 2 p.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union Sandhills Room. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
“Betsy has attended CIBER-FDIB tours to India, France and Africa,” Murray said. “She has a passion for travel and can share her international experiences.
“UNK has organized a week of multiple activities open to the public to build awareness of global entrepreneurship, and to challenge participants to ‘act locally, but think globally,'” Murray said, noting that this marks the first Global Entrepreneurship Week.
“The goal of Global Entrepreneurship Week is to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity,” Murray said. “This is an opportunity for us to engage the next generation of business leaders.”
In addition to the presentations by Ball, a documentary film titled “ImagineIt” is being shown continuously at three locations on the campus–West Center Atrium, Jitters West and Otto Olsen Building north hallway. The film tells about young people who have made a difference in their communities and around the world.
Murray added that to challenge movie watchers to ‘act locally, but think globally,’ they are being asked to write their solutions to the following question: “How can rural Nebraskans build wealth and jobs using limited global resources without damaging the local environment and high quality of life?”
Finally, the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney is hosting an exhibition titled, “Voices of American Farm Women.” The exhibit is up through the end of the month. Murray described the exhibit as photographs combined with a documentary film by Cynthia Vagnetti that provide a contemporary perspective on women in agriculture, documenting women from across the country whose farming techniques promote environmental responsibility, economic stability and community well-being.
Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA is sponsored nationally by the Kauffman Foundation and the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Activities are taking place in more than 70 countries. Founded globally by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign, sponsorship includes NYSE Euronext, IBM and Ernst & Young.
For a complete list of participating countries or to learn more, visit: www.unleashingideas.org.
