An entrepreneurial‐directed approach to teaching corporate entrepreneurship at university level

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this article is to explore the entrepreneurial‐directed approach to teaching within one university‐level course in corporate entrepreneurship (CE) for Master's‐level students, and to gain a deeper understanding of the viability of the pedagogical methods used in teaching CE. The paper seeks to describe and examine the approach in the light of the theoretical concepts behind it, the pedagogical methods and applications used to reach the course objectives, and the learning outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of qualitative research methods and observation techniques were used during and after the course in order to explore the learning outcomes of the students and to evaluate the applicability of the approach in achieving the learning objectives. All of the research material was analysed in the context of the entrepreneurial‐directed approach.

Findings

The results reveal that the approach is well suited to teaching CE in a university setting, perhaps even better suited than it is to entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial‐directed approach may be a constructive, educational and fruitful experience for students and teachers.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal research is needed in order to trace how the entrepreneurial‐directed approach has succeeded in fostering entrepreneurial behaviour in students.

Practical implications

The case study gives some practical ideas on how the approach could be used in teaching CE.

Originality/value

Few researchers have discussed and analysed how entrepreneurship is taught, and research on teaching CE is almost non‐existent. This study attempts to fill both of these gaps.

Citation

Heinonen, J. (2007), "An entrepreneurial‐directed approach to teaching corporate entrepreneurship at university level", Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 4, pp. 310-324. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910710754453