Founded in 2005, the Entrepreneur School of Asia (ESA) at Thames International proudly pioneered the first degree in Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. From the outset, ESA has been at the forefront of fostering entrepreneurial excellence, becoming the inaugural institutional partner of the GoNegosyo Movement (gonegosyo.ph). This collaboration was spearheaded by our past Chairperson, Vivienne Tan, a founding board member of GoNegosyo, underscoring ESA’s commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit.

In 2006, ESA made history by organizing the first Social Enterprise Conference in China, in partnership with Zhejiang University and the Oxford University Said School. This landmark event highlighted ESA’s dedication to promoting social entrepreneurship and cross-cultural collaboration.

As a program partner of the British Council, Department of Trade and Industry, the Design Center and the Apl.de.Ap Foundation, Thames ESA developed the Innovation and Creative Enterprise (ICE) Program to instill entrepreneurship skills and mindset to the country’s budding artists and creatives. 

(https://www.britishcouncil.ph/programmes/arts/creative-economy/creativeinnovatorsdti)

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, Thames ESA continues to lead in entrepreneurship education, proudly serving as the secretariat for the UNESCO EE-NET. Looking ahead, we will focus on training the next generation of family business leaders and fostering start-ups designed to solve the social challenges of developing countries. Guided by the principles of the faith-driven entrepreneurship movement https://faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/, ESA is committed to shaping entrepreneurs who are driven by purpose, resilience, and values.

Our mission is to collaborate with esteemed institutions both in the Philippines and the UNESCO EE-NET Asia-Pacific network to elevate entrepreneurship education for the 21st century. Through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, ESA empowers the next generation to create meaningful and sustainable change.