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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. SESSION AIMS.
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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 2nd and 3rd July 2008
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)
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
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
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
SOME EXAMPLES • Bike racks for buses • Achieving sustainable schools • “Geo-twist” children’s game • University Clubs – car share • Activity camp for disadvantaged children • University cooking –survival tips! • Survival flares for surfers • House party planners
THE ENTERPRISE TEACHING • Lectures on enterprise, entrepreneurship and team working • Guest lecturers from local enterprises • Supportive reading and websites • The “Dragons Den” pitch
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
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 • It’s different and challenging
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”
WINNERS OF THE 2007 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION (Plymouth Geographers)
WINNERS OF THE 2008 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION (Plymouth Geographers)
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!
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