Fostering Entrepreneurship in Higher Education – a EU

perspective

Simone BALDASSARRI

Unit E.1

Entrepreneurship

Definition of EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into

action.

It includes• creativity, • innovation and • risk taking, • as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives.

This • supports everyone in day-to-day life at home and in society,• makes employees more aware of the context of their work and better

able to seize opportunities, • and provides a foundation for entrepreneurs establishing a social or

commercial activity

(2006 Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning)

Overview

• Entrepreneurship is not sufficiently integrated in the

curriculum of HEIs

• The majority of entrepreneurship courses are offered in

business and economic studies

• Chances of being exposed to EE are higher when the

student is enrolled in a business school or a multidisciplinary institution with a business school.

• More than half of the student population in Europe do not

have access to Entrepreneurship Education

More data from the 2008 European Survey

• Only 1/4 of specialized and 1/3 of multidisciplinary institutions without a business school offer entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurship most commonly offered to undergraduate or graduate students, fewer courses for PhD students

• Entrepreneurship education is still immature: often person driven and depending upon the efforts of individuals

• In only 20% of HEIs the teaching staff must undergo training in order to teach entrepreneurship.

• Less than 1/3 of staff teaching entrepreneurship had practical experience with entrepreneurship outside academia.

Teaching tools• There is a gap between methods applied and those that are

seen as the most effective

• Experience-based methods are crucial: traditional

pedagogies (lectures) are not the most effective

• Most effective methods indicated: group techniques for new

business ideas, case studies, business planning workshops

• Essential element: crossing boundaries between disciplines,

and multi-disciplinary collaboration

Problems/Obstacles

• Shortage of funding

• Too few professors of entrepreneurship

• Little incentive and reward for teachers

• Faculties and departments tend to work separately

• Mobility between HEIs and business is low

• HEIs are not sufficiently involved with their alumni

Actions for HEIs

• Set up a strategy or action plan

• Create an entrepreneurial hub

• Offer introduction to entrepreneurship to all, and opportunities to follow more specific courses

• Set up incentives to motivate and reward staff

• Encourage the spontaneous initiative of students

• Award credits for activities and practical work