Our Work

*NEWS* 

December 2011

Workshop Report - Entrepreneurship Education

A report is now available on the recent 'Entreprenurship Education - Exploring the Gender Dimension' workshop.

The workshop took place at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London on 8th December 2011 and was sponsored by BMAF with support from Vets4Pets, ISBE (Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Education) and the GEN (Gender and Entreprenurship Network). The workshop included presentations from Prof Colette Henry (RVC), Prof Susan Marlow (University of Birmingham) and Dr Sally Jones (University of Leeds), Prof Stephen May (RVC).

Three discussion groups then expored a range of key questions relating to gender in entrepreneurship education.

Download the Workshop report (56kb .doc)

 

November 2011

Enterprise Educators UK Launch New Website

EEUK have launched a brand new website that raises awareness of the valuable work that its members do related to enterprise and entrepreneurship education.

New features include:

• Member profiles – providing key information about the work of EEUK members
• Case Studies – focusing on the impact of EEUK members’ work
• Notice board – where members can upload job opportunities etc
• Social media links – the @eeuk twitter feed

The new website can be found at www.enterprise.ac.uk

 

April 2011

Professor David Rae Presentation Video

A video of Professor David Rae's presentation from the recent Entrepreneurial Learning SIG workshop is now available.

The workshop Curiosity, Imagination, Creativity, and Flexible Thinking: The challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurial teaching and learning took place a the University of Westminster on 25 February 2011.

Presentation slides from this event are also available from the Event Information Page.

 

March 2011

Entrepreneurial SIG Workshop Report Available

A report on the recent SIG workshop Best Practice - Entrepreneurship Teaching and Learning - the Student Experience by Jenny Moore is now available for download:

Post-Workshop Report (39kb .doc)

 

February 2011

QAA Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Group meet for the first time

For some time the BMAF Entrepreneurial Learning Special Interest Group has been calling for clarity in terms of quality issues in enterprise related education. Culminating in its meeting at Leeds Metropolitan University last year, the group led negotiations with QAA as to how this might be best achieved.

As a direct result of that event and consultations / joint events with other partners, Friday 11th February became a landmark day for enterprise and entrepreneurship education. Birmingham City Business School hosted the Quality Assurance Agency's first meeting of the new Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Group, with a remit to discuss possible ways forward.

Recognition by QAA is important, as they are tasked to guide UK universities and colleges on ways to maintain their academic standards and quality. Importantly, they publish guidelines to help UK universities and colleges develop effective systems to ensure students have the best learning experience possible, and very little is available to help enterprise education specialists. With the development of the group, enterprise and entrepreneurship educators now have a direct contribution to make to UK education standards development, as the expert group is tasked with developing guidance for institutions to foster and develop students' skills in enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Laura Bellingham of the QAA said that, "Bringing together expert bodies in this area will be key to reaching a consensus on how best institutions can support and encourage an enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit in today's students".

QAA Graduate Enterprise and Entrepreneurship group members:

• Laura Bellingham, QAA Development and Enhancement Group
• Hushpreet Dhaliwal, National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs
• Harry Matlay, Birmingham City University
• Jo Mills, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
• Andy Penaluna, Swansea Metropolitan University / Higher Education Academy – Business Management Accountancy and Finance / Enterprise Educators UK (Chair)
• Alison Price, National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
• David Rae, University of Lincoln / Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Gareth Trainer, Newcastle University / Association of Careers Advisory Services
• Leigh Sear, UK Sector Skills Body for Enterprise - SFEDI
• Jonathan Slack, Association of Business Schools
• Kelly Smith, University of Huddersfield / Enterprise Educators UK
• Matt Smith, National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs

Download this Article as a PDF (61kb)

You can also read a press release about the meeting at the QAA Website.

 

Multi-year Expert Meeting

Andy Penaluna has written a report on the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Enterprise which took place at the United Nations in Geneva on 19-21 January.

Download the Report (22kb .pdf)

 

November 2010

A report on the results of the 2010 National Survey on Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education is now available from the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship website.

Following the election, the Browne Review, and Comprehensive Spending Review, Higher and Further Education is in an extended debate about how tomorrow's graduates will be prepared to compete in an employment market which is likely to remain difficult for some years to come, and what does this means in terms of their future educational experiences?

In England at least, job creation, based on ‘localism' and ‘entrepreneurial culture' is to be fostered by Local Enterprise Partnerships. So there is a real need to address what preparation for working life graduates will require for this new era of small government, in which small businesses must become even more economically significant. Preparing them more effectively, either for creating their own business or being able to add value as an employee in an existing small firm, becomes a primary goal for student-centred educators.

We see enterprise as the ability of graduates to apply creative thinking, curiosity and enquiry, social and communications skills, confidence and practicality in order to develop opportunities and achieve change in a range of situations. Enterprise is not simply about traditional business skills.

Two recent reports suggest that whilst this has achieved significant progress, this is also partial, in many ways quite fragile, and much more needs to be done to ensure all students can benefit.

The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship's (NCGE) third survey maps enterprise in English HEIs, and the second document was prepared by enterprise educators at the International Enterprise Educators Conference in Cardiff in September 2010. Following a series of feedback sessions, this proposed a ‘concordat' for developing enterprise education for the sector, resulting in five recommendations.

An important development has been the emergence of student enterprise societies to drive demand and participation in enterprise activities, with NACUE (the National Association of College & University Entrepreneurs) emerging in the last 18 months as a new organisation to champion student enterprise. The SIG is working closely with this Enterprise Alliance and leads ongoing discussions on the nature and type of quality assurance that this new era requires.

Andy Penaluna (Chair EL-SIG) and David Rae (El-SIG guest speaker and Vice-President for Enterprise of the Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship)

 

October 2010

International Enterprise Educators Conference Outcomes

The "IEEC2010 Concordat" been published, detailing the outomes of the recent 2010 Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK) and National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship’s (NCGE) International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference (IEEC). The IEEC2010 Concordat calls for:

• Integration and pathways to be developed so that schools, colleges and universities can provide a continuous and integrated approach that will help our learners to develop the lifelong skills needed to be enterprising and entrepreneurial.
• Improved institutional support and leadership that helps to drive forward the entrepreneurial mission across institutions, at all levels.
• Clarity of impact measures and associated funding priorities so that we can work to develop a more sustainable, transparent and appropriate, approach to developing these capacities.
• Improved guidance on issues of quality and assessment, so that a more coherent yet flexible framework will enable educators to embed more enterprising approaches in their curriculum.
• Recognition and reward nationally, regionally and institutionally to support those working within a fragile environment of short term funding by providing career progression and recognised development opportunities - for the ultimate benefit of regions, institutions as well as individuals (staff & students).

For more information visit the IEEC UK Website.

 

July 2010

How to Teach Entrepreneurship: A Student Perspective

Stephanie Macht of Northumbria University has completed her BMAF funded project with the above title. The outputs include a Guide Booklet and Recommendations Sheet on How to Teach Entrepreneurship.
See Teaching Research and Development Projects 2009/10 and Stephanie's Project page.

The Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2010 competition

is now open for entries. Please help to find the UK's brightest new talent!

Who is it for?

* The most outstanding entrepreneurial young business person in the UK!
* UK-residents aged 16-30 (on the 6th September 2010)
* Anyone who has been trading for between 3 and 18 months (on the 6th September 2010)

What is it?

* £10,000 cash injection to the business
* Raises profile and generates vital publicity for the winner and regional finalists
* The 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Robert Matthams, benefited from coverage in the Financial Times and The Independent as well as broadcast media such as BBC Radio 5 Live and Working Lunch. Articles and features on his business reached a combined audience of over 7 million readers and listeners

Applications from across the UK are invited online.

Deadline 5pm on Monday 6th September 2010.

 

2nd National Enterprise Educators awards: Announcement of shortlist
BMAF Sponsored

A message from EEUK and NCGE:

This year the judging was incredibly difficult given the strength and quality of all the applications, but Enterprise Educators UK and NCGE are delighted to announce the short list for the second annual National Enterprise Educators Awards.

All those who submitted are specially invited to join the Awards Ceremony which is been held during the Gala Dinner of the International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference (IEEC) in Cardiff on Thursday 2nd Sept - we would be delighted if you were able to attend the whole conference, as well as join us for the Awards during the IEEC Gala Dinner - we invite you to book now to join us for 3 days 1st-3rd Sept 2010.

Conference Speakers include: Keynotes from Dr Charlie Ball, Prospects, Dr Colin Jones from the University of Tasmania, Australia and Alan Mortiboys on Teaching with Emotional Intelligence, as well as focus on key themes of international aspects, curriculum development, employability and graduate recruitment through our workshops and special strands.

Book now on http://www.ieec.co.uk/en/register whilst the early bird is still available (9th July deadline)

Our congratulations go to all those short-listed - as well as to the fantastic applicants who ensured that the competition was strong and our winners are truly deserving! We are looking forward to seeing you at the Awards Ceremony to hear the winner announced in Sept!

Societies:

University of Manchester Manchester Entrepreneurs
University of Southampton SIFE Southampton
University of Southampton Student Entrepreneurship Society

Champions:

Greig Sinclair University of Glasgow
Helena Schulze University of Southampton
Kairen Skelley University of Leeds
Louise Kenworthy University of Salford
Nigel Culkin University of Hertfordshire
Sue Poole Swansea College

Educators:

Award sponsored by the BMAF network

Charmaine Myers Sheffield Hallam University
Richard Adams University of Hertfordshire
Simon Brookes University of Portsmouth
Sue Smith Leeds Metropolitan University

For more information please visit:
http://enterprise-educators-awards.ncge.com

 

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