The venture creation approach: integrating entrepreneurial education and incubation at the university
Journal article, 2011

University entrepreneurial activity strives to deliver commercial value from university research. Entrepreneurial education, while having the same fundamental purpose, focuses on the stimulus of the individual. Recognising a gap in the literature between the fields of university entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial education, this paper proposes a venture creation approach to learning within an integrated environment. A study of Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship shows how university entrepreneurship, in the form of incubation, and entrepreneurial education, can be integrated. This integration provides both opportunities and challenges, both of which are addressed by utilising conventional problem-oriented and solution-focused learning philosophies in tandem. The venture creation approach builds upon combined learning philosophies in order to allow students to 'test the water' while reflecting upon real-life situations and explore entrepreneurial behaviours when creating new ventures. The paper concludes that actors engaged in combined entrepreneurial education and venture creation need to recognise, adapt to, and appreciate the tension and dynamics of the integrated environment.

university entrepreneurship

entrepreneurial learning

commercialisation

solutions focus

incubation

problem orientation

university incubators

university research

entrepreneurial education

higher education

venture creation

universities

Author

Susanne Ollila

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Karen Williams Middleton

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Entrepreneurship and Strategy

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

1368-275X (ISSN) 1741-5098 (eISSN)

Vol. 13 2 161-178

Driving Forces

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Subject Categories

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

Learning and teaching

Pedagogical work

More information

Created

10/7/2017