Exploring entrepreneurship education within veterinary medicine: can it be taught?

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore business and, more specifically, entrepreneurship education within veterinary medicine and discuss the perceptions of veterinary students and veterinary employers in relation to its teaching within veterinary medicine. Some challenges for veterinary business and entrepreneurship educators are highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a small exploratory pilot study, which included student focus groups and an employer survey, the paper highlights the differences between employers' and students' perceptions of the value of business‐related education. Students' preferred programme content and expected pedagogical approaches are also discussed.

Findings

The paper finds that veterinary students do not place the same value on entrepreneurship and business‐related education as employers, not perceiving it as a “priority” within their veterinary studies. This poses a number of challenges for educators in terms of: seeking to integrate entrepreneurship and business‐related topics within an already crowded programme of study, determining relevant content and delivery methods, and designing appropriate assessment methods.

Research limitations/implications

The paper explores a relatively new concept (i.e. business and entrepreneurship) within veterinary education and, as such, the authors fully recognise that further empirical research – beyond this exploratory study – is needed.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the discrepancy between veterinary employers' and veterinary students' perception of the overall value of business and entrepreneurship education. Findings relating to students' expectations of programme content and their preferred pedagogical approaches should be of value to educators in helping them to reshape their current offerings or, at the very least, manage students' expectations.

Citation

Henry, C. and Treanor, L. (2012), "Exploring entrepreneurship education within veterinary medicine: can it be taught?", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 484-499. https://doi.org/10.1108/14626001211250171