Entrepreneur Education: It is not about theories, it is about doing things. Prof. Samuel van den Bergh

Definition: Entreprendre (French) = undertake An Entrepreneur is someone who makes things happen and does (creates, builds, initiates, achieves running an enterprise or organization). An Entrepreneur is NOT someone who watches, observes, analyses or describes (after: Kirby (2006)

Entrepreneurial Mindset: Imagination and creativity = innovator Intuition = enabler / designer Authority = leader Willpower = achiever, opportunity seeker and risk taker (after: Lessem (1986)

Education Kills Creativity: Sir Ken Robinson, TED Talk 2006 Example: Divergent thinking (essential capacity for creativity) In preschool: 98%, at age 8-10: 50%, at age 13-15: 40%

Ineffective Methods LECTURE = Acronym. It stands for „Lengthy Endless Continuous Torture with Unending Repetition of Explanations.“ Theories = cognitive development

Effective Methods Applications in real or simulated projects = affective development Contests, working in teams, business games Regional and global cooperation Cooperation with industries, smes

Example: Panasonic received an Award from UM for academia-industry cooperation program: “From Cradle to Career” this Monday, 12/12/2011 It was initiated by a former AEI student: Ravinther Kunju Raman The program offers every year 50 first year students training and coaching in industry relevant soft skills and on-the-job training. The students are being trained until their final year.

Why? Help students to develop entrepreneurial mindsets Help industries to connect to future employees during their education Help academics to relate to business needs

What? Creativity skills, especially divergent thinking, problem solving Communications skills, especially persuasion, negotiation Critical thinking and assessment skills Leadership and social networking skills Time management skills after: Ray (1997)

Born or Bred? To some, entrepreneurs are born not bred It probably takes a certain personality – yet the environment can indeed enhance entrepreneurial skills by experiencing real life examples at schools or at home

Ravi’s Daughters The older one designs badges, first for her colleagues, now also for Ravi’s clients The younger one runs a business by selling her father’s colored paper to friends

The Swiss System Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences CTI: Commission for Technology and Innovation

CTI CTI helps to optimize knowledge and technology transfer through the use of thematic and regional networks and platforms.

CTI CTI lends support to: Market-oriented R&D projects. Sponsers: 50% government and 50% industries. Creation and development of start-up companies; Knowledge and technology transfer.

Thank you for your attention! Prof. Samuel van den Bergh

Literature: Kirby, David A. (2006), Entrepreneurship education: can business schools meet the challenge? International Entrepreneurship Education. Issues and Newness. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 35 – 54. Lessem, R. (1986), Entreprise Development, Aldershot: Gower. Ray, D.M. (1997), „Teaching entrepreneurship in Asia: impact of a pedagogical innovation“, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Change, 6(3), Robinson, Sir Ken, TED Talks CTI, (Swiss) Commission for Technology and Innovation