Home

Home > Our Work

Teaching applied business skills within the large class context: entrepreneurship models

 

Status: complete

 

Description

For many Business subjects, the aims of education are to afford students the opportunity to learn and develop skills within an applied context.

The purpose of the proposed study is to investigate the effectiveness of methods used to teach applied management/business skills and competencies in large groups. The model to be investigated is Applied Entrepreneurship education. Like in other Business subjects, the aims of Applied Entrepreneurship classes include practice and development of skills.  The most common method of delivery is via the business start-up simulation exercise, where students work in teams to devise an idea, develop it commercially, write a formal business plan and present to funders. Thus, skills dissemination aims include tacit skills such as creativity, team working, confidence and initiative, as well as explicit skills for business such as financial skills, report writing and research (Galloway, et al., 2005).

At Heriot-Watt University Applied Entrepreneurship is co-ordinated by three academics. However, three large-class Applied Entrepreneurship modules are delivered: one for first year undergraduates in Management; one for all undergraduates as an Honours elective; and one for Engineering undergraduates. Each of the three academics at Heriot-Watt manages the ‘simulation’ differently. One supervises groups of four to six students within whole-class seminars (with around 150 student in attendance at once); one reserves tutorial times as weekly consultation periods for groups of four to six students with a tutor, where the maximum number of groups in attendance is two; and one creates teams of up to 20 students, who are provided weekly, exclusive consultation with a tutor. The last two classes thus employ several tutors at a cost, while the first does not.

The proposed study seeks to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of each method, from the perspectives of students and staff associated with these modules.

 

 

Organisations / Institutions

Heriot-Watt University

 

Related documents/URLs