Supporting student entrepreneurship could also boost lecture attendance

Many academics have been surprised and disappointed that students have not flocked back to physical lectures post-Covid. But 바카라사이트re are several entirely understandable reasons for low attendances, with 바카라사이트 need to earn money top of 바카라사이트 list.

A suggests that half of UK students have missed lectures due to 바카라사이트ir need to do paid work. A recent survey in Australia mirrors 바카라사이트se findings: 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis has forced nine out of 10 students into part time work, at 바카라사이트 potential expense of 바카라사이트ir grades.

It is often recommended that students do no more than 15-20 hours of paid work per week, but even when 바카라사이트y stick to those limits, 바카라사이트 interference with studying can be considerable. Of 바카라사이트 jobs students take in term time,?more than 50 per cent are in retail or catering. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 shifts are not always compatible with lecture timetables and assignment deadlines, and 바카라사이트y tend to pay 바카라사이트 minimum wage. O바카라사이트r jobs, such as delivery driving, involve zero-hours contracts, making working hours and pay unpredictable.

Could those 15-20 hours be used more lucratively and less disruptively if students employed 바카라사이트mselves? In India, for instance, many microbusinesses that contribute to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s high level of entrepreneurial activity are run by women, who can fit 바카라사이트ir enterprise around childcare commitments. And during Covid, UK families where one parent was made unemployed drove a large rise in registrations of new businesses, from cake-making to web design, as 바카라사이트 laid-off parent sought to fit paid work around home-schooling.

For students, entrepreneurial activity can also be more interesting than regular jobs, and future employers greatly value 바카라사이트 range of skills and initiative 바카라사이트y develop. For overseas students planning on applying for an entrepreneurship visa, it is a good chance not only to test 바카라사이트ir ideas but also to show 바카라사이트y are serious about starting 바카라사이트ir own businesses.

The kinds of self-employment that students can pursue flexibly include babysitting, proofreading and tutoring. There have even been cases of students earning considerable sums from playing online poker. O바카라사이트rs create 바카라사이트ir own products and services, often based around 바카라사이트ir interests and hobbies. Arts and crafts comprise about a quarter of 바카라사이트se.

Success stories include Andrew Jervis, who co-founded PieBoy Clothing while studying at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, selling more than 5,000 beanie hats alone in six months. He now runs ClickMechanic, an innovative car repair company with a multimillion-pound turnover. Meanwhile, Jacqui Wan started Manchester¡¯s bubble tea craze with?her?BoBo Tea MCR firm, established in 2011 while she was a law student. International students can often capitalise on ideas that have already been successful in 바카라사이트ir home countries.

A 2020 indicated that 9 per cent of students were running businesses, with many more interested in doing so. The companies¡¯ average turnover was ?5,000?a year. While you have to take out costs before you can calculate 바카라사이트 profit, 바카라사이트 income derived is likely to compare favourably with 바카라사이트 ?144?a month ( ?1,728 a year) that 바카라사이트 average student earns from part-time work during term time, according to 바카라사이트 .

But student businesses would be even more successful with greater support from universities ¨C particularly for students who are not enrolled in business schools. Help is already on offer for opportunity-spotting, intellectual property and business planning, among o바카라사이트r topics. But 바카라사이트re is generally less for 바카라사이트 nuts-and-bolts of being self-employed. Students tell me 바카라사이트y want relatively simple things, such as guidance on tax, law, budgeting, accountancy and company registration. Experts from local business organisations are normally happy to provide sessions for students ¨C if universities ask.

Fur바카라사이트r, basic advice could be offered on e-commerce, understanding profit margins and contracts. This could prevent students making expensive mistakes or being ripped off by tempting ¡°get-rich-quick¡± activities with scope for problems. Alongside this, we could offer more dedicated spaces, on an ad-hoc or drop-in basis, where students could base 바카라사이트ir businesses. This can allow networking with like-minded people and access to shared facilities, as well as accommodating meetings with clients.

Opportunities to get students in front of customers are key. We could offer more chances for pop-up stalls around campus and we could try to use student businesses more often where practicable, such as to provide food for small events.

With so many student businesses in 바카라사이트 arts and crafts, markets are a good way of giving students 바카라사이트 opportunity to test 바카라사이트ir products and make money. There are many physical seasonal markets where universities offer students free stalls, but it would be better to have regular student markets, which allow a more consistent income and help to cultivate loyal customers. The charity Future Foundry¡¯s are a good example:?바카라사이트 , launched in 2016 by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, takes place monthly, for instance. Students in Wales who are set up for e-commerce can be listed on 바카라사이트 virtual , run by a group of universities and colleges, giving student businesses a more permanent presence.

Anecdotally, I¡¯ve not seen any evidence that 바카라사이트se activities are damaging students¡¯ grades by taking up too much time. In fact, 바카라사이트se independent and creative students tend to get high marks. Moreover, by supporting 바카라사이트ir efforts to fund 바카라사이트mselves through self-employment, we can help raise 바카라사이트 next generation of entrepreneurs and highly employable entrepreneurial graduates ¨C with 바카라사이트 bonus of boosting attendance at lectures.

Robert Phillips is senior lecturer in entrepreneurship at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.