Hangzhou, China, October 27, 2013 Saïd Business School, the University of Oxford, and the Global Entrepreneurship Research Center of Zhejiang University announced today the graduation of the fifth and final cohort of their 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Certificate Program. The program is part of the 10,000 Women initiative sponsored by Goldman Sachs and The Goldman Sachs Foundation. A total of 507 female entrepreneurs have been trained under the program since 2009.

JIN Deshui, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University, said, “The Oxford-Zhejiang 10,000 Women program is a unique and customized program designed to enhance the business and management skills of women entrepreneurs. Incorporating themed lectures, case studies, company visits, story-telling competitions, and business plan writing, it sets a new benchmark for entrepreneurship education nationwide and globally.”

"This program has attracted female entrepreneurs of a high caliber," said Elizabeth Paris, Program Director at Saïd Business School. "Their energy, attitude, and progress have made a positive impact on local industries. They have taken advantage of this opportunity provided by Goldman Sachs to enhance their careers and to bring change to their families and the community.”

The program has enhanced the scholars’ capabilities in areas including human capital management, financial and strategic management, and sales. Upon graduation, they will continue to implement action plans for their business under the guidance of mentors including Goldman Sachs employees and alumni of University of Oxford.

Participants in the fifth cohort were from Zhejiang province and neighbouring areas, involving in a variety of industries including leisure services, technology, agricultural services, manufacturing, education and training, logistics, and healthcare. Some of the scholars have already made progress in growing revenues and in providing new job opportunities.

Professor WANG Zhongming, Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Research Center of Zhejiang University said, “Professors from Oxford and Zhejiang have worked closely to develop a five-module program to enhance female entrepreneurs’ business skills. Each module is supported by case studies, lectures by financiers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs, site visits, business planning supervision as well as mentoring by entrepreneurs and business executives.”

“Partnership is one of the tenets of the 10,000 Women program,” said Erin Walsh, head of the Office of Corporate Engagement in Asia Pacific at Goldman Sachs. “Cooperation between the public and private sectors is often a driver of economic growth, transformation, and development. The program has provided a platform of knowledge, expertise, and resources for women entrepreneurs in eastern China, impacting their businesses and their lives, and bringing changes to the community.”

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative is a five-year campaign to foster greater shared economic growth by providing 10,000 underserved women around the world with a business and management education. The initiative covers 43 countries and is coordinated locally by a network of over 85 academic and non-profit organizations. It is funded by Goldman Sachs and The Goldman Sachs Foundation.