Entrepreneurship Teaching at the University of Stirling Frank Martin © 2007 Senior Teaching Fellow

It started in 1982 Scottish Enterprise Foundation formed in 1982 within U of S to “enable the creation of new Scottish businesses by university graduates” Created Graduate Enterprise in Launched MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies. P/G and U/G Teaching 1988 Distance Learning MSc 1989 P/G Diploma in Exporting for Small Business SME Resource Centre

Female Enterprise: We Created These Programmes 1989 Women’s Enterprise Roadshow 1991 Certificate in SME Management for Women 1992 Launched Women into the Network EC Funded Women’s Local Employment Initiative

University Department 1989/1 SEF becomes a Dept. In 1991 Tempus Funding to Transfer MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies to Yugoslavia 1993 MSc launched in Slovenia SEF in 1993 £1.266m and 30 Staff Funding Problems Restructuring

Restructuring Department of Entrepreneurship Absorbed into the Department of Management Creation of the Entrepreneurship Centre as a Faculty resource

P/G and U/G Teaching 1986 MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies FT (2004) and DL (2001) MBA in Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing by DL (2001) MSc in ICE (2005) Entrepreneurship Teaching in most of the P/G and U/G courses within the Management Department

Undergraduate Teaching 1986 – 1996 Business Studies Dept. Teaching Joint Degree Initiative Dept of Ent. Mkt with ES; Sports Studies with ES; Computing with ES (FTEs) Did not work and or not given a chance. What have we done?

The Modules U/G Level 3 rd and 4 th Year Since 1986 Introducing Entrepreneurship (pg) Launching a New Venture (42) Growing Your Own Business (51) Research for Enterprise (p/g now) SME Policy (12) Entrepreneurship and e-Commerce (36) All ELECTIVES 10% of lectures on main 1/2 nd year mgt courses

Postgraduate Teaching Launching A New Venture (52) On MBA Programme, MSc in ICE and MSc in Int. Business Assessed 100% by Business Plan Research for Enterprise – Projects with local SMEs (12-18 students in teams of 3-4) Students find projects or found for them.

MBA in Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing Introducing Entrepreneurship Launching a New Venture Growing a Business Experiencing Entrepreneurship Creativity and Entrepreneurship Business Strategy The Core Modules

MBA in EBV ( pick 4 electives) Marketing & Entrepreneurship Financial Management Corporate Entrepreneurship Innovation and Commercialisation Internationalisation SME Policy E-business Social Enterprise Family Enterprises Leadership

Observations (1) Still believe in the u/g joint degree model. We do not need an u/g Entrepreneurship degree as per Business Studies degree model. In FTE world with departments we need a powerful champion at a senior level. Students want entrepreneurship modules despite the work involved. Students must get out and meet/interview entrepreneurs.

Observations (2) Bring in business people to class but must be well briefed. Students like them but not too many. Recruit business men as Hon Profs. Try and recruit a successful entrepreneur appointed as Professor of Applied Entrepreneurship days a week Try to get money from an entrepreneur to help fund the teaching – we never got any of note – it would make a difference.

Observations (3) Not easy to teach entrepreneurship Must be credible to business men Academics focused on research have real problems here. You must get out and network with local SMEs – local cases Go to everything! Student club needed for events

Web Sites Scottish Institute for Enterprise for all HE and FE institutions

IMPACT ? A good question Numbers of students taking courses Numbers of businesses started but time frame Retrospective student contact – good jobs – the network Really should have an alumni of entrepreneurship students only – time and effort involved Impact on family businesses