Entrepreneurial Learning Environment Research Articles

Teacher's Agency and the Cooperation With Entrepreneurs in Entrepreneurship Education

Purpose: Vocational education and training (VET) in Finland takes place more and more at workplaces. Hence, the teachers' cooperation with companies has become important. Little research has been done on the teacher's activities in business cooperation and the factors affecting business cooperation. The teacher's decisions and choices are made possible through the teacher's autonomy and agency. The teacher's agency is understood as a capacity to utilise autonomy. In this study, the teacher's agency is reflected in their activity in developing entrepreneurial learning environments and activity in developing regional entrepreneurship education (EE). The study was conducted among Finnish VET teachers. In Finland EE is understood in its broad sense and the teacher is in a significant position choosing where, how and with whom they implement EE. The main research question in this article is: How does the VET teacher's agency in EE affect their cooperation with entrepreneurs? Methods: The data consists of 933 vocational teachers' responses. An open online survey tailored for teachers was used in the data collection (Measurement Tool for Entrepreneurship Education). Ordinal regression analysis has been used to analyse the data.Results: The teacher's agency is a significant factor explaining his/her level of cooperation with entrepreneurs. The results show that the teacher's activity, desire, and ability to express agency, strengthens the use of companies in teaching. Surprisingly, the teacher's personal entrepreneurial background and the number of companies in the area do not act as explanatory factors for entrepreneurs' cooperation. The study makes several suggestions on teachers' perceptions of the factors explaining and creating agency as an entrepreneurship educator. Conclusions: In Finland, teachers' autonomy is high. Teachers have the freedom to utilise their agency in many ways. They can, for example, make their own decisions and renew their teaching in many ways if they are willing and encouraged to do so. It seems like the question is more about management and teacher identity. The teacher's agency should be strengthened, and the teacher should be given the option to act more freely. Furthermore, the teacher's autonomy is not enough; agency is also needed.

Creating an entrepreneurial learning environment for entrepreneurship education in HE: The educator’s perspective

This paper focuses on entrepreneurship educators as creators of an entrepreneurial learning environment in entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurship education research has concentrated mainly on the subjects of education (i.e. the students) or on the content of learning, leaving individuals with a critical role in entrepreneurship education – the educators – without sufficient attention. In response, the research question for this study is: how do entrepreneurship educators create entrepreneurial learning environments in entrepreneurship education within higher education? The qualitative study draws on the principles of Vosniadou et al. concerning active learning environments by concentrating on interviews with entrepreneurship educators and documentary data. An entrepreneurial learning environment can be defined as a self-regulatory, co-created learning setting in which entrepreneurship students from different backgrounds learn in teams, as the findings suggest that educators emphasise adjustable co-creation within a ‘given’ format involving individuals with complementary skills working in teams. The study contributes to fulfilment of the identified need to understand the educator’s perspective, and to share the know-how and educational experiences of entrepreneurship educators. Practitioners can use the findings as a concrete tool for the creation of an entrepreneurial learning environment. They can learn from, adopt and develop the practices discussed when designing learning environments for their entrepreneurship students.

The Impact of the Entrepreneurial Learning Environment on Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention in Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano

The Impact of the Entrepreneurial Learning Environment on Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention in Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano

Integrating entrepreneurial working life skills with foreign language teaching – two cases from the University of Oulu

Abstract This activity report describes two cases of Language teaching for degree students in the University of Oulu with new pedagogical approaches aiming towards authentic working life skills. Co-creation, collaborative learning and cooperation across borders are the building blocks for these innovative language teaching projects. Case 1 describes Entrepreneurial Language Studies in English and Swedish courses, co-created with the Ministry of Culture and Education Key Projects, which aim for fostering entrepreneurial culture and creating entrepreneurial learning environments at universities. Case 2 is about Teaching English and Course Cooperation in English language between the students of Information Processing Science in Finland and Russia. In both of these cases, students have been challenging themselves with new ways to learn the language and at the same time acquire important skills for working life, virtual learning, presentations, communication, problem solving and business idea creation. What unites these cases is the emphasis on authentic language learning, creativity and self-efficacy. Because career paths today are increasingly complex, multidisciplinary and diverse, the ability to adapt, innovate and be flexible is vital in evolving and collaborative working environments.

Entrepreneurial Knowledge and Digital Competencies – Keys for a Success of Students Entrepreneurship

Abstract In today’s economy, which is extremely challenging and competitive at the same time, many people want to have their own business and manage their own incomes. Entrepreneurship is a key driver of today’s economy. This observation underscores the need to ensure adequate entrepreneurial education, in line with the demands on the labor market. The purpose and role of this experience are to educate students to understand the entrepreneurial activity, to develop their entrepreneurial skills and competencies and the intention to run a business. The learning environment is crucial for a successful entrepreneur and he can generate change. This article describes experiences from developing and using the entrepreneurial learning environment in high schools with a technological profile. In this study 1200 students from three technological high schools were observed, the behavior and the results obtained after studying the specialized economic modules were analyzed. Our goal was to identify the main challenges of these students. In our study, we used a mixed-method: questionnaires, topic-based interviews, direct and participatory observation as data collection methods. According to our results, the main challenges were: difficulties in understanding new entrepreneurial notions due to traditional teaching methods, lack of ICT skills, lack of team learning principles and inefficient communication within a group.

The Influence of Entrepreneurial Learning Environment and Intrinsic Learners’ Need on Entrepreneurship Education

For human and economic development to be achieved certain factors need to come into play, one of being the proliferation of entrepreneurship as a carrier choice. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of Entrepreneurial Learning Environment (ELE), Intrinsic Learners’ Need (ILN) on Entrepreneurial Learning Outcome (ELO) and the mediating relationship of Entrepreneurial Motivation (EM) on the relationship of ELE and ILN on ELO. The population of the study was drawn from three universities (Yusuf MaitamaSule University, Kano, Kano University of Science and Technology and Bayero Univeristy, Kano). A total of 14,446 students formed the population of the study; 345 students constitute the sample size which was drawn using priory sample size calculator and stratified sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings of the study revealed that ELE is the most important factors that influence students’ ELO and ILN and EM have insignificant influence toward ELO. Therefore, the study recommends that practicing entrepreneurs need to be involved in the teaching of entrepreneurship education.

Entrepreneurial University and Business Education: Towards a Network Model

In this study, we aim to reach a better understanding of the critical issues that affect the achievement of the University third mission. We argue that the third mission is positively linked to the first one. Renewing the teaching way and building a dynamic system of cooperation between university players means obtain positive results that integrate the proposal of an Entrepreneurial University (EU) model into a new network perspective. In order to identify its characteristics, resources and activities, we provide a literature review about the EU. We collect the more frequently shared indicators so as to define the EU model and consider new indicators, such as internships and more highly skilled students. We propose to design the EU ecosystem as a network where it is possible to identify the players involved, the activities performed and the tools used. Particularly, we refer to Italy. Within a network, interaction ways among actors are renewed, reinforced and changed. Each university could build its own network, according to its history, culture and environment. We pinpoint obstacles and incentives only exploring literature review. We do not have empirical data or case studies to support directly the feasibility and applicability of our model. Redesigning University-Business Cooperation to renew entrepreneurial learning environments. Obtaining an applicable perspective starting from the strengths of each university environments. Developing an entrepreneurial mindset inside students. Highlighting a dynamic, released, flexible approach, fit to different contexts.

Start-up competitions as learning environment to foster the entrepreneurial process

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to shed light on the increasing start-up competitions (SUCs) phenomenon; second, to provide an interpretive framework to understand whether the SUCs have the potential to be effective entrepreneurial learning environment; third, to analyse the different roles of public and private actors in organizing SUCs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a cross-section analysis of the Italian SUCs population. In total, 77 competitions are analysed on the basis of different criteria which should properly mirror their distinguishing structural features, helping understand the potential of SUCs as learning environments.FindingsThe recent increase in the number of SUCs has been mainly fuelled by private actors. Moreover, Italian SUCs show some features that make them rich learning environments. Private and public actors play different roles, as confirmed by statistical tests performed. Privately organized SUCs follow mainly a market-oriented approach, while publicly organized ones are more education oriented.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings cannot be easily generalized mainly due to the peculiarities of the Italian context.Practical implicationsSoft forms of regulation should be defined to strengthen those features which could potentially support the entrepreneurial learning processes. In this view, SUCs should be part of a start-up friendly ecosystem where actors (startuppers, incubators, venture capitalists) are effectively coordinated with each other.Originality/valueDespite the remarkable diffusion of SUCs, there are significant gaps in literature about this phenomenon. Given the lack of a systematic and comprehensive analysis of SUCs as effective entrepreneurial learning environments, the paper represents an important starting point.

Entrepreneurial learning environments: supporting or hindering diverse learners?

Purpose – This study focuses on the implementation of entrepreneurship education in non-business education at the basic education level and in class-teacher education in Finland. The subject to learn was music, which did not include any entrepreneurial content. Accordingly, this study looks closely at the way learners behave when studying music. The purpose of this paper is to see whether entrepreneurial behaviour is appropriate in non-business education. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the action research approach; in particular, it used the special teacher-as-researcher method. The analysis was based on content analysis. Findings – In this study, the teacher-researcher looked at entrepreneurial learning as experimenting with alternative learning methods and different learning contents. To ensure that every learner received the support they needed in their self-chosen tasks, peer learning was encouraged. Learners got the support they needed both from each other and from the teacher-researcher. Practical implications – Although this study was only carried once during some music lessons in one particular comprehensive school and once in one class-teacher education in Finland, the findings may prompt teachers in other subjects and other countries to add entrepreneurial activities to their learning environments. Originality/value – There is a lack of research into entrepreneurship education practices at lower educational levels and where education is not business-oriented. Using the entrepreneurial approach in general education raises another question: is the approach suitable for every learner? Neither of these facets has been studied in depth.

Dissonance in the academy: the formation of the faculty entrepreneur

Purpose – While interest in and demand for entrepreneurial universities has gained prominence in recent years (e.g. Clark, 1998; Etzkowitz, 2008; Thorp and Goldstein, 2010), there is minimal research on the learning experiences and career-making events that transform traditional faculty members into faculty entrepreneurs who are able to successfully apply their research knowledge toward endeavors that intersect with the private market. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to understand, from the perspective of faculty entrepreneurs, the lived learning experiences that contributed to their development from traditional faculty member to faculty entrepreneur. Specifically, this study explored the question on how faculty members who were founders or co-founders of a business learned “to work in entrepreneurial ways” (Rae and Carswell, 2000, p. 220). In general, individuals who are interested in pursuing a career as a professor are not generally socialized during graduate school to engage in technology transfer activities or encouraged to start businesses (Bercovitz and Feldman, 2008). This study also sought to understand how faculty entrepreneurs learn to persist in an organizational culture that does not always support entrepreneurial endeavors outside the scope of researching, teaching, and service. Design/methodology/approach – A phenomenological qualitative research design was employed using in-depth, semi-structured interview questions. Entrepreneurial learning was the theoretical framework that grounded this study. Findings – The data analysis process revealed six themes which offer insights on the learning experiences, contextual factors, and patterns of behavior that helped the participants to develop and to persist as faculty entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications – First, the data were dependent upon the learning experiences identified and articulated by the faculty entrepreneurs. There is a possibility that significant learning or career-making experiences were omitted or unintentionally not reported by the participants. Second, the author used a broad net when searching and recruiting for faculty entrepreneurs. Any faculty member who was in a tenure-track position and who had founded or co-founded an organization was eligible to participate in this study. However, the data analysis process may have yielded different results if the author had elected to study faculty entrepreneurs from a specific academic discipline or if the author had chosen to only interview faculty entrepreneurs who had founded a specific type of business. Third, this study focussed only on tenured faculty members who are currently involved with the businesses that they founded or co-founded. Subsequently, this study did not include any faculty members whose entrepreneurial pursuits were unsuccessful (i.e. closing the business). There is the possibility that former faculty entrepreneurs may have had similar learning experiences as the individuals who were interviewed for this study. Practical implications – The findings may be instructive for traditional faculty members who are interested in applying their research findings and expertise with an entrepreneurial endeavor such as starting a business. In addition, these findings may be useful for higher education administrators who seek to cultivate an entrepreneurial learning environment in their institutions and for future researchers who want to expand the study of faculty entrepreneurs. Originality/value – There is a gap in the literature on how traditional faculty members learn to couple their research knowledge and expertise with an entrepreneurial endeavor such as starting a small business. In addition, there has been minimal research that delineates how the faculty entrepreneur comes into existence at the individual level (Clarysse et al., 2011; Pilegaard et al., 2010). Subsequently, this is one of the first phenomenological qualitative research studies to examine the lived learning experiences of faculty entrepreneurs.

Authentic and entrepreneurial teaching practice in science and technology – variation and diversity in outcomes from professional development courses for teachers

This qualitative study describes the variation and diversity in science and technology teachers’ self-expressed outcomes from two CPD courses with the same major aim, however with different designs and foci. The aim was to increase teachers’ knowledge of authentic and entrepreneurial learning environments in school science and technology. The CPD evaluation model presented by Harland and Kinder (1997 was used for analysis). Both courses resulted in outcomes in all eight typologies as well as in impact on practice. The teachers’ expressed experiences reflect the different foci; general reflections on changes in teaching strategies for a more authentic and entrepreneurial learning environment from one course to concrete examples of subject specific activities from the other course. This suggests that a CPD course, including teaching strategies with the content knowledge as a point of departure, thus providing concrete examples of subject related changes in teaching practice, might provide a more effective CPD.

Teachers’ Perceived Requirements for Collaborating with the Surrounding World

This study identifies teachers’ perceptions of requirements for including collaborations with the surrounding world in their teaching practice, with the aim of providing authentic and entrepreneurial learning environments for students. School management, time and teachers’ personal character traits and disposition were the most frequently stated areas of concern, followed by colleagues, surrounding world, economy and professional development. Concerns not previously identified include economy, localities, local curriculum, teachers’ unions as well as time to reflect and adjust to a different teaching approach. The results are worth considering for school and teacher development aimed at increasing school collaboration with the surrounding world.

Learning entrepreneurship in higher education

PurposeThere is a constant need to produce more entrepreneurial graduates from higher education institutions. This paper aims to present and discuss several successful cases of entrepreneurial learning environments in order to suggest some important aspects that higher education institutions should consider.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a literature review and four previously published case studies. These are used for suggesting a hypothesis for further study.FindingsThe pedagogical challenge is that entrepreneurial competencies are more holistic and psychologically oriented than traditional subject‐matter skills. Entrepreneurial skills are learned via pragmatic real life development projects. The paper presents several successful cases of entrepreneurial education programmes in higher education institutions. It proposes an entrepreneurial learning cycle that supports the development of entrepreneurial competencies.Research limitations/implicationsThe evidence presented is case‐based, and the actual results are very difficult to measure. Further large‐scale research is needed to verify or falsify the hypothesis.Originality/valueEntrepreneurial education in higher education institutions should be fully reviewed and changed. Clear goals should be set regarding the development of graduates who are more entrepreneurially oriented. Furthermore, the educational process will require much restructuring to enhance skill development for entrepreneurship.