Entrepreneurship Education: Substance and Challenges

17th December, 2013

Paper Published in 10th Biennial Conference on Entrepreneurship Volume 1 & 2, Bookwell Publishers, Delhi ISBN: 978-93-80574-48-6

Entrepreneurship Education: Substance and Challenges

Presentation is all about:
different models of entrepreneurship education (EE) themes of entrepreneurship education

Identification and classification of EE challenges & Issues

Entrepreneurship Education and Training

Entrepreneurship Education vs. Entrepreneurship Training Entrepreneurship Education As a course As concentration area / specialization As a program of academic study (EEP) Entrepreneurship Education vs. Training Why and How to Differentiate

 Definition of Entrepreneurship Adopted by HEI and Impact on EE

Two Extremes Converting ideas into action to Lifelong competence development Venture Creation vs. Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Dimension Definition and Impact In terms scope, objectives, spectrum of activities

HEI Specific Maturity of HEI and EE Program Substance Institution wide definition, scope and program objectives

 Entrepreneurship Education
Program Objective (s) and Focus of EE

Spectrum from Developing entrepreneurial mindset to setting up enterprises and businesses Objective Decides Courses, pathways in EE programs and finally who, what, why and how of EE programs

Entrepreneurship Education Historical Perspective

Schumpeter (1934) - entrepreneurial manifestations and economic transformation David McClellands work Entrepreneurship Training and EE Movement USA as frontrunner in embracing EE Some course on Entrepreneurship at HBS in 1947 Katz (2003) - chronology of EE University of Southern California (USC) - launched first MBA concentration in entrepreneurship in 1971 followed by first undergraduate concentration in 1972 By 1980s - 300 universities offering courses in entrepreneurship and small business in USA Number reached 1050 schools by 1990s (Solomon, et al., 1994) Research on EE offered by universities (Zeithaml & Rice, 1987) Spread of EE Europe, UK based business schools and universities EE at School level - EU

 Evolution of Entrepreneurship Education

A course on Entrepreneurship
More electives

Concentration Area / Specialization

EE Program

Journey from Business Schools to Other Institutes

 Movement

Entrepreneurship Education Indian Experience - 1

Research, Policy interventions, design and development of EDPs and REDPs for entrepreneurship development (1970s) CED, Gujarat - Role of Gujarat State, Birth of EDI

EE limited to short duration entrepreneurship training programs Different mandate of IIMs

IIM-A as frontrunner Limited to courses on entrepreneurship, family firms, small businesses and new venture creation

Entrepreneurship subject / paper at UG & PG Level

Business and Management Programs at UG and PG level in early 1990s Sensitizing youth towards entrepreneurship as career Development of project profile as learning outcome and evaluation component

Spread of EE beyond
Exposure of Entrepreneurship to Engineering, technology and design students through some workshops, seminars or graded courses

1998 EDIs one year full time PGDBEM program Embedding entrepreneurship as a course in many education programs Current status Programs & Courses

 Enablers

Entrepreneurship Education Indian Experience - 2

Textbooks by Indian Authors (Context, Culture, Complexity) Case books (Entrepreneurship, SME specific) Role of media (Magazines, Business Newspapers, Business News Channels)

Private Universities and Institutes

MBA or PGDM Entrepreneurship and Family Business Implanting entrepreneurship into plain vanilla MBA Some cases degree / qualification awarding role

Few innovative approaches / experiments

ISBs MFAB (Management Program for Family Enterprises) AMSOM, Ahmedabad Universitys EMBA Program NMIMS MBA (Family Business) TISS MA in Social Entrepreneurship JGI-IDEA program (Global Entrepreneurship Program)

Some attempts to combine prediction logic with creation logic Society of Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) EE beyond HEI level to school level syllabus

Entrepreneurship Education Framework, Structure and Format 1

Program Objective (s)

Definition of Entrepreneurship

Pedagogical Tools / Teaching Approach

Design, Delivery & Evaluation

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Entrepreneurship Education Framework, Structure and Format 2

EE and Teaching Methods
Trait based - David McClelland (McClelland 1964)
Focus on the key entrepreneurial skills and abilities like risk taking, need for achievement, and internal locus of control

Entrepreneurship as a process (McMullan and Long, 1987)

Process oriented approach phase wise learning - from generating idea, developing the concept, opportunity identification, working on need for the resources and mobilizing and acquiring resources, writing the business plan, working on execution of B-plan and launching the venture

Entrepreneurship as a method (Neck and Greene, 2011)

Focuses on disorderliness of entrepreneurship process. Educators teach, train and educate students understand, develop and practice the skills and techniques needed for productive entrepreneurship. Importance given to absorb non-linear and chaotic nature of entrepreneurship by combining effectuation logic with business skills

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Entrepreneurship Education Framework, Structure and Format 3

Dilemma between breadth vs. depth of the curriculum Standardization vs. customization Theories Applications & Practices part of EE programs Field work and internships Challenges and Nature Common Part - business, Entrepreneurial and managerial skills Model based on business plan, business life cycle stages Functional format of programs vs. business as an integrated process Interweaving domain knowledge and functional understanding of the business and management EE based on the various stages of venture development .

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Entrepreneurship Education Framework, Structure and Format 4

Pedagogical tools and learning methods
classic to social science education and management education like lectures, readings, workbook exercises, case based class discussion, discussions with experts, guest speakers, individual coaching, role plays and sometimes team based projects. Development and writing of a business plan an integral part
Premise - Learning integration and connect different parts of the business while developing a business plan Supported by field based project work facilitating start up of a venture

Outside classroom learning

Interviewing entrepreneurs for creation of entrepreneurs profiles, shadowing an entrepreneur, extended interactions with entrepreneurs, internship with start ups and entrepreneurial firms

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Entrepreneurship Education Framework, Structure and Format 5

Assessment and Evaluation of EE program participants
Different methods of assessment and evaluation Conventional assessment methods like written examinations are found to be better to assess the understanding and acquisition of key concepts Assessing some of the practical skills and entrepreneurial behavior and attitude which cannot be assessed based on the written examinations.

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EE Issues and Challenges 1

Design / Content

Delivery / Pedagogy

EE Challenges

Student Engagement / Student Specific

Competent Entrepreneurship Educators

Assessment / Life beyond EE

Entrepreneurship Education Issues and Challenges 2

Obsolesce of EE Knowledge driven new age economy
New enterprises and start ups do not follow the same liner way of setting up an enterprise which entrepreneurs of 1980s and 1990s followed

EE challenges
Entrepreneurship educators Relevant and effective teaching material Challenges of who-what-how to teach entrepreneurship

EE Classic challenge
balance between advancement in entrepreneurship by guarding the classic things of entrepreneurship field. 16

Entrepreneurship Education Issues and Challenges 3

EE challenges
design, delivery, development of curricula, pedagogies and learner centered education coupled with evaluation and assessment Challenges of content and coverage Distinction between need to know, should know and nice to know Approach to entrepreneurship teaching How much to teach and What start up should learn on the move

EE- Stage of Enterprise Life-Cycle

Pre-startup, Startup, Growth, Survival and Exit

Cohesive Environment for students - Ecosystem Building Faculty pool with diverse background
Students ideas and campus mentoring support 17

Entrepreneurship Education Issues and Challenges 4

Dearth of entrepreneurship educators Very few people are formally educated and trained to become entrepreneurship educators (trainers are many) Dilemma of entrepreneurship educators when it comes to research and publication as well as the future growth
Dilemma between researches in the disciplinary area vs. research in the entrepreneurship area. Natural tilt towards publishing in the discipline specific publications rather than specific entrepreneurship journals

Adoption of ICT in EE late entrant to distance education programs very few online learning platforms
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Entrepreneurship Education Issues and Challenges 5

Entrepreneurship educators
How to sensitize towards needs of the entrepreneurship learners and challenges of EE programs Challenge - How to foster creativity and innovation with risk taking abilities How to develop entrepreneurship educators with personal characteristics and personality traits that exhibit problem solving, sense of initiative, decision making, leadership, risk-taking and creativity

Developing Entrepreneurship Educators

Ability to use active learning and experiential learning methods focusing on building team for start-ups, client acquisition in initial days, communication and negotiation skills, project management

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Challenges as Entrepreneurship Educators

How to become well-conversant with different pedagogical tools Thinking creatively how to use resources available Building personal network and establish rapport with different sections of society to become effective in and outside classroom Flexibility in teaching approach Figuring out and trying out which teaching method would work better while delivering a particular course Challenges for new entrant in the field of EE
Relevant teaching material, content, pedagogical tools, experiential learning, active learning, teaching resources Case material for start ups and business entry stage of enterprise Uniqueness of EE Equipping new entrants to deliver inside and outside classroom.

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Ending Remarks 1
Radical shift towards the treatment and approach of EE Embedded approach of active learning Innovation and creativity in course delivery and program design. Emergence of Dream Factories Start up Schools (Venture Studio Like) Use of live and multimedia cases - Exercises and simulations Entrepreneurship educators with similar traits and attitudes of an entrepreneur
Zealous people with optimistic & encouraging attitude with ability to inspire Self-motivation and confidence of entrepreneurship educators Open to new ideas and able to think in cross-functional and multidisciplinary way

Seamlessly blending or implanting entrepreneurship courses Attracting and developing Entrepreneurial educators 21

Ending Remarks 2
Choice of definition, scope, objectives and approach(s) of EE Focus on entrepreneurship competence beyond knowledge acquisition Learning that use realistic learning from real-life world Entrepreneurship educators
Motivator, counselor, consultant and a facilitator

Assessment and Evaluation

Wide range of innovative evaluation components and parameters Assessment components As Pedagogy and evaluation element

Role of administrators
Recognizing and rewarding entrepreneurship educators - entrepreneurial in terms of using experiential learning, active learning and using assessment components that involve risk taking, innovation and creativity

Students acceptance and receptivity for different learning experience 22

Selected References 1
Awasthi D. (2011), Approaches to Entrepreneurship Development: The Indian Experience Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research Winter & Spring, 1(1), pp.107-124. Donald F. Kuratko (2003), Entrepreneurship Education: Emerging Trends and Challenges for the 21st Centurey, Coleman Foundation White Paper Series for the U.S. Association of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Gartner, W.B., Vesper, K.H. (1994), "Experiments in entrepreneurship education: successes and failures", Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 9 No.2, pp.179-87. McMullan, W.E., Gillin, L.M. (2001), "Entrepreneurship education in the nineties, revisited", in Brockhaus, R.H., Hills, G.E., Klandt, H., Welch, H.P. (Eds),Entrepreneurship Education: A Global View, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot, pp.57-77.

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Selected References 2
Neck Heidi and Greene Patricia (2011), Entrepreneurship Education: Known Worlds and New Frontiers, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 49, Issue 1, pp. 55-70 Plaschka, G.R. & Welsch, H.P. (1990) Emerging Structures in Entrepreneurship Education: Curricula Designs and Strategies. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 14(3): 55-71. Robinson, P. & Hayes, M. (1991) Entrepreneurship Education in Americas Major Universities. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 15(3): 41-52. Ronstadt, R. (1987) The Educated Entrepreneurs: A New Era of Entrepreneurial Education is Beginning. American Journal of Small Business, 11(4): 37-53. Sexton, D.L. & Upton, N.E. (1984) Entrepreneurship Education: Suggestions for Increasing Effectiveness. Journal of Small Business Management, 22(4): 18-25.

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Selected References 3
Sexton, D.L. & Upton, N.E. (1987) Evaluation of an Innovative Approach to Teaching Entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Management, 25(1): 35-43. Solomon, G.T., Fernald, L.W. (1991), "Trends in small business management and entrepreneurship education in the United States", Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 15 No.1, pp.25-39. Solomon, G.T., Weaver, K.M, & Fernald, L.W., Jr. (1994) Pedagogical Methods of Teaching Entrepreneurship: An Historical Perspective. Gaming and Simulation, 25(3): 338-253 Vesper, K.H. & Gartner, W.B. (1997) Measuring Progress in Entrepreneurship Education. Journal of Business Venturing May: 403-421 Vesper, K.H. (1986) New Developments in Entrepreneurship Education. In D.L. Sexton & R.W. Smilor (Eds.), The Art and Science of Entrepreneurship, pp. 379387. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

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Questions and Deliberations?

Thank you