Embedding Enterprise Education into the Curriculum

Abstract

Learning about and experiencing enterprise whilst at university can lead to enhanced employability and entrepreneurship skills, and can suggest an alternative career option in business start-up or self-employment. However, educators are often resistant to helping their students learn about enterprise and entrepreneurship, or may struggle to fit additional learning opportunities in an already full subject-specific curriculum. This paper offers two case studies showing how students can learn about their subject through enterprise-related assessment tasks such as a tendering exercise or an ideas pitch. In both case studies, the emphasis is on the subject-specific learning, but enterprise and entrepreneurial skills are also acquired. Formal and informal evaluation shows that students are enthused by the tasks, and that staff benefit from increased knowledge of enterprise issues and links with the business community