So, what is MAP?

MAP is the Micro-enterprise Acceleration Program. MAP enables HP partners and non-profit organizations to become certified training centers that train micro and small entrepreneurs. The cornerstone of MAP is a curriculum for micro and small entrepreneurs, their employees and would-be employees, on how to grow businesses using IT technology.

MAP is an HP-sponsored initiative. Its goal is to foster economic development in communities around the world.

Watch the video below to learn more about how MAP works!

First, there is the MAP Curriculum.

The MAP Curriculum covers operations and management, finance, communications, marketing, and technology management. The curriculum is designed using the perspective of the micro-entrepreneur – it highlights business challenges that entrepreneurs and their employees face and proposes IT technology solutions that address those challenges. Participants gain more familiarity with a wide range of information and communication technologies. They participate in hands-on activities that build their skills and help them assess their abilities and needs. The curriculum applies experiential learning methodologies and is highly interactive.

And how is MAP delivered to the entrepreneurs and their employees?

Through training. The MAP Curriculum is modular. Small and micro-entrepreneurs attend trainings on topics that are of most interest to them.

Where do trainings take place?

MAP trainings take place in MAP training centers. Currently there are about 50 MAP training centers in 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific Region. If you’re a non-profit organization or an HP partner and you decide to become MAP, you will open a MAP training center. Two people from your organization will become certified MAP trainers. They will then deliver the MAP Curriculum to small and micro entrepreneurs from your local community.

Certified MAP trainers? How do they become certified?

MAP includes a 5-day Training of Trainers (TOT) course where two people from your organization or company will be trained on how to deliver the MAP curriculum. The TOT is an intensive and highly interactive (and really fun!) course. The MAP TOT is taught by professional MAP Master Trainers. The TOT applies the latest methodologies in adult learning and equips future MAP trainers with all the tools and skills they need to teach the MAP curriculum to entrepreneurs.

I’d like to become MAP – but not in English. Is this possible?

Of course! The MAP Curriculum is available in quite a few languages. Here’s the list:

• Arabic
• English
• French
• German
• Italian
• Korean
• Mandarin Chinese
• Portuguese
• Romanian
• Russian
• Serbian
• Spanish
• Thai

Also, if sufficient interest exists, the MAP Curriculum can, of course, be translated into other languages too.

Ok, I see. And what exactly does MAP teach?

MAP covers all these 20 topics – neat, eh?  Each of the topics in the light green boxes above is interactive and hands-on.

The MAP Curriculum uses the experiential learning methodology. The experiential learning cycle works as follows: First, participants are provided with some new information; second, they process the information through a hands-on experience; third, they reflect on that experience; and fourth, they apply what they have learned. Research shows that adults learn best in this hands-on way.

The MAP Curriculum is flexible and adaptable: you can teach/attend one topic or twenty – or any number in between.

Huh, interesting. I’d quite like to see an example.

Sure! Just watch one of our videos. These ones below are all about an open source application you can use to edit and build websites – to enhance your marketing. (If you look at the MAP Curriculum matrix above, you’ll see the Websites topic in the Marketing section – that’s the one you’ll see in the video!)

But… Is this something new? Or have others already become MAP?

MAP is a young program. It has been running since 2005.

To date, 50 MAP centers have been opened in 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific Region. There are already 200 MAP certified trainers in these countries, and 20,000 entrepreneurs and enterprise employees have gone through the MAP training. You can scroll back up to the top of the page to check out some of many MAP ‘satisfied customer’ stories! You can also click here to see the network of existing MAP centers around the world.

Still have questions about MAP?  See if we already answered your question on our FAQ page.