Faculty Motivation for Pursuit of Entrepreneurial Mindset Professional Development

Abstract

Entrepreneurial mindset (EM) has recently been adapted and integrated into various engineering classes and programs globally. Studies have shown that this integration can be effective and lead to beneficial student outcomes. To ensure broader integration of EM, faculty need to be trained on this construct and how it can be implemented within class-based environments. This study examines faculty motivation to attend professional development opportunities focused on EM offered by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN). Through this mixed methods study it was found that faculty are often motivated by the value the workshop holds for them personally and for their career, and its usefulness in their courses. They are also motivated by their personal interests and enjoyment of professional development opportunities. The faculty in our study indicated being enabled by the workshop content's relevance to their teaching, especially in terms of course development, and its effectiveness in helping them become better instructors. Depending on the circumstances, faculty were either enabled or dissuaded by the timing of the workshop and the available funding for them to attend. The results of this study can help future workshop designers tailor their workshops to meet the needs of engineering faculty both nationwide and globally.