Competence Development of Young Entrepreneurs Through Educational Innovations

Abstract

The questions regarding interactive methods of teaching, self-studying, active learning, as well as an implementation of a competency-based approach into study process, have been actively discussed by educational experts, authorities, scholars and teaching practitioners during the last decade. Probably, the main issue is to encourage students to participate in classroom activities and to promote successful learner-tutor cooperation. The research was aimed to evaluate the progress in entrepreneurial competencies perceived by students, participating in a specific 2-days long entrepreneurship workshop. The workshop content and schedule was designed within the framework of the international project «Strategic Partnership for Innovation and Development of Entrepreneurship». The format of the organized workshops was created during the project by the partner organizations. It is a unique teaching instrument, encouraging entrepreneurial skills and innovative spirit among students. After the workshop, the participants (students and mentors) were surveyed, using the specially designed questionnaire. One of the question blocks involved the list of competencies, which were offered for evaluation according to the criterion «progress», using 5-point scale (1 – the level stayed the same; 5 – the level really increased). The results were processed, using the methods of frequency analysis and ranking. Thus, the main goal of the paper is to reflect the results of the conducted survey in order to test the quality and success of the specific teaching method. The results indicated the substantial perceived increase in such competences, as Collaborative working, Decision making & Problem-solving, Managing Performance, Commitment to Excellence, Speaking and Listening Skills, Presentation Skills, as well as Self-motivation. The obvious conclusion is that such kind of interactive teaching methods is the most valuable in management teaching. However, additional peer consulting and evaluation block could be useful at the stage of the initial presentation of the business idea. The results of the research (and the idea of such workshop) can be useful for any academic staff member engaged into the study process and working with students of programmes «Entrepreneurship», «Management», «Business economics» and related ones Keywords: innovations in education, competences, entrepreneurship workshop, Latvia, students, survey.