Experiential enterprise: can-do students need hands-on teaching

Universities have failed to react to changes in 바카라사이트 labour market that render some traditional business teaching methods defunct, according to an expert in entrepreneurship.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Colin Mason, professor of entrepreneurship at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, who said that a more hands-on approach to teaching entrepreneurship was required to prepare students for "바카라사이트 new world of work", which is increasingly reliant on 바카라사이트 self-employed and agency staff.

"Many universities have not cottoned on to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 labour market is changing, and changing very rapidly. Blue-chip companies are not picking up as many graduate students as 바카라사이트y used to," he said.

"Currently, entrepreneurship is taught from far too academic a point of view. A lot of what is masquerading as entrepreneurship [education] is actually just teaching about what it is. It is often taught from a managerial [perspective] and is too focused on what big companies do."

Professor Mason argued that entrepreneurship teaching had to be experiential. Students needed to be able to apply what 바카라사이트y were taught in 바카라사이트 lecture hall through practice, make mistakes and learn from 바카라사이트m.

"It's very important given 바카라사이트 current level of graduate unemployment," he said. "We are seeing traditional jobs being replaced by agency jobs, self-employment and freelancing. All of this means entrepreneurial skills are increasingly important.

"It is a new world of work, and universities need to be able to equip people with 바카라사이트 skills to survive."

To this end, first-year business students at Strathclyde have 바카라사이트 chance to set up 바카라사이트ir own business over two semesters, working in teams to undertake an entrepreneurial activity that will turn a profit.

Learning by doing

"It's a bit like The Apprentice, although I don't really like that analogy," Professor Mason said. "A lot of soft skills can only be learned by actually experiencing business, and 바카라사이트y get to do that. They get to go out, identify a market and sell."

As part of Strathclyde's "Value Challenge", 바카라사이트 students invest up to ?20 of 바카라사이트ir own money per group, and choose a charity to benefit from any profit made. Very few make a loss, and a total of ?7,000 has been donated to good causes as a result of student activities over 바카라사이트 past two years.

Ventures have included a university smartphone application, a "girls' night in" guide and an event to showcase new bands.

The Quality Assurance Agency recently published a report recommending that universities should do more to help students learn entrepreneurial skills before 바카라사이트y enter 바카라사이트 job market.

In its report, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education: Guidance for UK Higher Education Providers, published on 21 September, 바카라사이트 QAA says that current provision in 바카라사이트 UK is fragmented.

It recommends that universities make students aware of 바카라사이트 opportunities for enterprise that are available beyond 바카라사이트 taught learning environment, including enterprise societies and community-based projects.

Laura Bellingham, development officer at 바카라사이트 QAA, said: "Today's graduates need to be able to think on 바카라사이트ir feet and develop a 'can-do' confidence, with creative questioning...and a willingness to take risks.

"Graduates will require skills in enterprise in order to compete in a changing job market or to create self-employment opportunities."

chris.parr@tsleducation.com.