Coping with Uncertainties in Entrepreneurship – An Experimental-Learning Approach

Uta Wilkens and Yvonne Braukhoff
Additional contact information
Uta Wilkens: Institute of Work Science, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Yvonne Braukhoff: Institute of Work Science, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany

from ToKnowPress

Abstract: This article highlights the importance of Entrepreneurship Education as a key driver for economic growth and points out challenges. In order to promote entrepreneurial activities, many universities have substantially invested in Entrepreneurship Education. Considering the increasing challenges posed by the VUCA-world, coping with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity presents a key competency of leaders. In this connection, Entrepreneurship Education may strengthen problem-solving skills, change orientation and self-reliance. Since traditional courses come up against limiting factors, the use of experimental based approaches is intensified. For this purpose, the course “Coping with uncertainties in Entrepreneurship” was developed and is offered within the framework of “inSTUDIESplus” a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education at the Ruhr University Bochum. This course aims to foster an entrepreneurial mentality among students and reduce uncertainties concerning starting a business. Applying peer education, student groups develop peer sessions which contain the confrontation and overcoming of typical situations of entrepreneurial uncertainty. As practical part, panel discussions arouse students’ interest in entrepreneurial careers and foster the exchange between entrepreneurs, start-up consultants and students. Problem-based-learning elements are incorporated, since students discover and explore real life topics and present their learning outcomes to their peers. In reference to experimental-basedlearning, integrated role-playing games serve as simulation and thus allow students to actively experience and cope with real life uncertainties. Consequently, the course concept “Coping with uncertainties in Entrepreneurship” combines elements of problem and experimental-based-learning in order to meet current challenges of Entrepreneurship Education.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education; Higher Education; experimental learning; problem-basedlearning; peer learning; coping with uncertainties; role-playing game (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.toknowpress.net/ISBN/978-961-6914-23-9/papers/ML2018-105.pdf full text (application/pdf)
http://www.toknowpress.net/ISBN/978-961-6914-23-9/MakeLearn2018.pdf Conference Programme (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tkp:mklp18:431-432

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Integrated Economy and Society: Diversity, Creativity and Technology; Proceedings of the MakeLearn and TIIM International Conference 2018 from ToKnowPress
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Miha Jezovnik ().