1 Enterprise Education in the GEES Disciplines Brian Chalkley and Katrina Gibson University of Plymouth GEES Conference: Employability, Employer Engagement and Enterprise in the GEES disciplines Edinburgh 2 nd and 3 rd July 2008

2 SESSION AIMS To share ideas about teaching enterprise To outline the approach used in Geography at Plymouth To examine how Plymouth geographers came to win the national student enterprise competition twice (2007&2008)

3 THE ENTERPRISE CONCEPT Being enterprising means being creative, innovative and taking opportunities and risks Enterprise is needed in both small and large organisations (intrapreneurship) It is increasingly featuring in Geography curricula eg Kingston, Ulster, Leeds

4 ENTERPRISE AT PLYMOUTH Forms part of the compulsory Stage Two module in Geography and Employability (GGX2108) Enterprise component is assessed Module adopts a broad interpretation of enterprise 150 students

5 THE ENTERPRISE BRIEF Working in teams, students are asked to design an initiative/project/business of their choice Their idea can be commercial, community or eco- based They research their idea and prepare a business plan for assessment

6 SOME EXAMPLES Bike racks for buses Achieving sustainable schools Geo-twist childrens game University Clubs – car share Activity camp for disadvantaged children University cooking –survival tips! Survival flares for surfers House party planners

7 THE ENTERPRISE TEACHING Lectures on enterprise, entrepreneurship and team working Guest lecturers from local enterprises Supportive reading and websites The Dragons Den pitch

8 THE ENTERPRISE ASSESSMENT 1000 word business plan (plus 250 word review of the team- working process) Plan outlines the idea, identifies the need/market, explains how the idea will be implemented and taken forward

9 GGX2108 THE STUDENT VIEW SOME POSITIVES Working with different students First taste of business Practice at presentations (the Den) Relevance to the world of work Variety of guest lecturers Its different and challenging

10 GGX2108 THE STUDENT VIEW SOME CONCERNS Group work assessment Reluctance to perform in public Early morning lectures (!) No relevance to some future careers? I want to be a teacher

11 WINNERS OF THE 2007 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION (Plymouth Geographers)

12 WINNERS OF THE 2008 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION (Plymouth Geographers)

13 SECRETS OF SUCCESS Some underpinnings from GGX2108 Experience in team working Practice at presentational skills Attendance at University entrepreneurship workshops Expert mentoring from the University and from local entrepreneurs Researching and using information under pressure Networking – schmoozing!

14 STUDENT OUTCOMES CV development: a national award Offers of graduate employment Two start-up businesses Development of personal skills Self-confidence and maturity For Katrina: invitation to Enterprising Britain final, judge at A level equivalent competition