1. Prof. dr Svetislav Paunović BBA
Faculty for Banking, Insurance and Finance
Belgrade, Serbia
UNIVERSITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN SERBIA
5th ERENET Conference
Budapest, 20th May 2011 1

2. Entrepreneurship
Is being given increasing emphasis in the economic arena.
Key resource for new millennium
An action-oriented way of thinking and behaving
Very important for market positioning and sustained market competitiveness

3. The role of entrepreneurship education (EE)
The importance of EE derives from the essence of entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship has been recognised as a basic skill in the process of lifelong learning.
This is the reason why EE has been promoted and practically implemented in educational system of the EU countries at all levels of formal and informal education.

4. Strategy for Development of Competitive and Innovative SMEs 2008-2013 in Serbia
Better living standard
Poverty reduction
Job Creation
Reduce grey economy
More balanced regional development
Economic growth
More profitable operation of SME
More dynamic conversion of micro into small, small into medium
Creation of firms and their survival in the market
Strengthening competition and growth of export
SME Development
Policy Pillars
Encouraging Business Start-Up
Improving management and workforce skills
Improving Financing and Taxation
Promoting export and innovation
Upgrading legislation and the business environment

5. The National Strategy implements the following Pillar 2 policies grouped in 4 modules:
Module 1: Better EE
Improved policy framework for EE
Integration and constant improvement of EE at all education levels
Legislation and financing to foster different forms of formal and informal EE
Module 2: More efficient business services to support SMEs
Module 3: Improvement of management skills
Module 4: Highly qualified labour force for SMEs

6. Integration and constant improvement of EE at all education levels
Integrate programmes of EE in the curriculum of primary school, secondary vocational schools and university programmes
Training for teachers and lecturers in the field of entrepreneurship
Fostering extra curricular activities at all levels of education
Connecting educational institutions with business community to implement business projects

7. University EE in Serbia
Relatively small number of private and public faculties offer their students opportunity to learn more about entrepreneurship.
At a few faculties entrepreneurship is studied as a separate (core or elective) course.
Some faculties explore only some segments of entrepreneurship within other courses.

8. University EE in Serbia (2)
Almost all faculties undergo the process of curriculum innovation and development. It should be expected that the entrepreneurship will be given more importance.
It is very important to specially reveal this subject to students of technical faculties, who by definition present the innovative nucleus which is not sufficiently market and entrepreneurship oriented.

9. Generally, existing programmes educate «about entrepreneurship»
rather than
«for entrepreneurship»,
providing knowledge and information about key elements of entrepreneurship, but fail to create and improve abilities and skills to implement entrepreneurial behaviour in the real business environment.

10. The key objectives of the EE at BBA
To deliver students “know how” in solving business problems
To support students in defining their own vision and assist them in identifying new market opportunity which can be used to start and run a business
To promote entrepreneurship as a business philosophy and multidisciplinary field that is applicable in many areas.

11. Curriculum for EE Entrepreneurship theories
Entrepreneurship in practice
Profile of successful entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship process
Business idea vs. business opportunity
Business plan
Marketing aspects
Organizational aspects
Financial aspects
Small business management

12. EE classroom activities
Create “relaxing” atmosphere in which all participants feel free to discuss and to contribute in finding solution.
Demonstrate yourself in a “different light”
Student are expected not to repeat but to find and create information as well as to use them in order to solve a problem.
Always provide different sources of information

13. EE classroom activities (2)
We want our students to be professionally qualified to act internationally
The dialog between students and teachers is central to the full range of methods employed: lectures, case-studies, business games, seminars, project teams.

14. New initiative of BBA (2010)
Project “Knowledge” –
New initiative of BBA (2010)
realized in close cooperation of BBA with secondary schools in Serbia and business sector (banks, insurance companies, corporate and consulting sector).

15. Project “Knowledge” - objectives
Spreading the mission of entrepreneurship in the secondary schools
Rising awareness of self-employment and entrepreneurship as a career option
Promoting entrepreneurial behaviour of students and teachers
Fostering extra curricular activities of students in secondary schools in generating business ideas

16. Project “Knowledge” content
Training of students in identifying business ideas and opportunities and preparing business plans – workshop organized by BBA. It included also mentors in the schools
Training in presentation skills organized in close cooperation of BBA and Ernest &Young
Writing the business plan
Presenting the business plan

17. Project “Knowledge” – 2010 results
15 schools from Serbia participated with 20 teams.
20 business plans were produced
Selection process of the teams to present their business ideas were done by the BBA professors
12 teams presented business plans during the final event.

18. Project “Knowledge” – 2010 results (2)
Evaluation Committee, whose members were the representatives of the banking, insurance and consulting sector, selected the best BP.
The best business plans and presentations were awarded by the BBA

19. What do we need?
EE in the time of turbulent changes requires programs and methods that support entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and intuition.
Universities are expected to be more entrepreneurial. Teachers and students should turn themselves into entrepreneurs
Interaction of the universities with the community (E2E, B2E, B2R) should follow entrepreneurship patterns.

20. Thank You very much for Your attention