A Pedagogical Strategy to Teach Entrepreneurship: An Observation Based on Literature

Abstract

Among the common contemporary interests of universities is the development of students' entrepreneurship due to the vital implication entrepreneurship has on personal success, social contribution, employability and competitiveness. This interest is taking different forms including adding courses or degrees, setting clubs and organizing activities that promote the entrepreneurial culture in the university ecosystem. There exists a plethora of studies on the educational aspects and teaching settings needed to attain goals and achieve outcomes. This literature shows a lack of experience in formal education in teaching and learning for real life. This leads faculty and students to perceive entrepreneurial education as another means for passing exams and getting certificates, without giving due importance to the link between this study and the needs of real life. This article aims to highlight a pedagogical strategy using an interdisciplinary approach to teach entrepreneurship. The main components of this strategy are the development of faculty and students, the interdisciplinary nature of teaching and the proper partnership with the industry. Accordingly, the pertinence to involve faculty members in the process is deliberated, the appropriateness of maintaining interdisciplinarity is highlighted and the academia industry relationship is revisited with observations on its apt directions. In closing, the outcome of the defined strategy on the components of the educational process is considered through a brief comparison between outcomes-based and competency-based methodologies, which highlights the appropriateness of the latter for the entrepreneurship education.