Nurturing Entrepreneurial Mindset among College Students through Challenges-based Learning: Construction and Validation of The Entrepreneurship Essentials Course in Universitas Ciputra

Abstract

The notion of constant changing and disruption, followed by bonus demographic period in 2020-2035, are seen as a challenge that needs to be tackle by providing a more relevant human capital. Universitas Ciputra develops Entrepreneurship Essentials (EEs) course as the first phase to nurture students’ Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) to increase the competitiveness and the ability to survive under uncertain conditions. Data collection was conducted in two phases, the pre-test and the post-test phase, to observe the EEs curriculum effectiveness in nurturing EM. Throughout 16 weeks of lectures period, students were guided using experiential-based learning process, specifically challenge based learning method. In between data collection period, students were given three real project challenges involves stakeholders. Students had to fill out reflective online questions to contextualize their experience, before they perform another challenge. At the end of EEs, students are expected to be able to develop EM in form of entrepreneurial project that has valuable impact to a community. 1025 qualified data sample were analyzed using Paired-Sample T-Test. Analysis revealed that EEs is effectively increasing EM among students. This study described EEs learning methods that can provide meaningful engaging experience with the result of changes in the students’ cognitive states. Keywords: entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial mindset, experiential-based learning, challenge-based learning.