The innovative Finnish team academy example: towards a new action learning-based business school model

Abstract

This paper deals with the innovative Finnish Team Academy entrepreneurship and business education experience. After introducing the theoretical background it describes the main characteristics of this innovative management education model. It shows that, to a large extent, the learning processes involved are close to the action learning methodology. A focus is made on the practical way their students work and learn in teams with the example of leadership competencies development. This entrepreneurship and business education model also appears as an interesting management education and HRD approach for life-long learning, as exemplified by the development of its network all over Finland. Finally, the paper discusses the advantages of this ‘revolutionary’ management education model compared to the mainstream one and he outlines the promising perspective of a new generation of action learning-based business schools.