Accra, May 27, GNA - Students from 16 tertiary institutions nationwide would compete for an enviable position in the 2009 Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Ghana National Competition on Thursday and Friday.

Participating institutions include, University of Ghana, Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Central University College, Accra Polytechnic, Sunyani Polytechnic, and University of Development Studies (UDS). The rest are, Wisconsin University, Pentecost University College of Ghana, Regent University College of Science and Technology, Takoradi Polytechnic, Ho Polytechnic, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), University College of Management Studies, Koforidua Polytechnic and Valley View University.

Mr William Rich, Africa Regional Vice President, briefing newsmen in Accra on Wednesday, said the competition would provide tertiary students with the opportunity to present their business projects to a panel of judges drawn from the business community. He said during the competition, SIFE teams from the institutions would give audio-visual presentation of their business outreach projects.

Mr Rich said the judges would rate the teams on how effectively they measured, sustained and demonstrated created economic opportunities by helping others to better understand market economics, acquire success skills, succeed in entrepreneurship, develop financial literacy skills, teach environmental sustainability and practice business ethically. He said during this year's competition, the teams would be grouped into four leagues on Thursday from which only a team from each league would advance to the final round to be held on Friday.

Mr Rich said the national champion would represent Ghana at the 2009 SIFE World Cup scheduled for October 4-6 in Berlin, Germany and compete against their counterparts from 44 countries.

SIFE is a university-based organisation to create global partnership between business and higher education to prepare university students to make meaningful contribution towards a better world as entrepreneurs and business leaders by challenging them to address real world business and economic issues in their communities.