Nurturing the Entrepreneurial Spirit

As we move forward into the 21st Century it is important to reflect on the great contributions that entrepreneurs have made to the wellbeing of our people and the wealth of our economy. Where would we be without the persistence and creativity of such notable entrepreneurs as Henry Ford, Bill Gates, and Joe Dudley?

http://www.entre-ed.org/Standards_Toolkit/

For the past 22 years the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (the Consortium) has provided leadership to those who teach our youth and adults about their country, their career opportunities, and the skills needed to be successful. Educators have created a wide variety of programs and activities to provide students with the experiences that nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship everywhere.

"Entrepreneurs are not ‘born’….rather they ‘become’ through the experiences of their lives."
Professor Albert Shapiro, Ohio State University

The Consortium has seen our special role in sharing interesting entrepreneur-building activities and innovative programs from elementary schools through secondary and post-secondary education. Through our national conference, our newsletter, and our website, we have encouraged the replication of these innovative educational ideas. We have supported our members – leaders in the field at local, state, and national levels. And we have built bridges between the Consortium and other organizations that are part of the potential delivery system that enables youth and adults to explore their entrepreneurial opportunities.

Based on the vision of our original mentor, Professor Albert Shapiro at The Ohio State University (deceased in 1985) the Consortium created the Lifelong Learning Model to demonstrate that entrepreneurship is a developmental process. We recognize the importance of nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit from early ages, and continuing it right through all educational levels. In most cases entrepreneurship is infused in classes where it provides the context for learning other basic skills and motivating students to want to learn. In the more advanced grades it also has become a separate course supporting the outcomes of the higher levels of the lifelong learning model.

Entrepreneurship education means many different things to educators – from primary schools to university, from vocational education to a university MBA. At each level of education, it is reasonable to expect different outcomes as students mature and build on previous knowledge. But the overall purpose remains to develop expertise as an entrepreneur.

A Lifelong Learning Process

The Consortium supports the concept that entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that has at least five distinct stages of development. This lifelong learning model assumes that everyone in our education system should have opportunities to learn at the beginning stages, while the later stages are targeted at those who may specifically choose to become entrepreneurs. Each of the following five stages may be taught with activities that are infused in other classes or as separate courses.

Stage 1 – BASICS

In primary grades, junior high and high school, students should experience various facets of business ownership. At this first stage the focus is on understanding the basics of our economy, the career opportunities that result, and the need to master basic skills to be successful in a free market economy. Motivation to learn and a sense of individual opportunity are the special outcomes at this stage of the lifelong learning model.

Stage 2- COMPETENCY AWARENESS

The students will learn to speak the language of business, and see the problems from the small business owner’s point of view. This is particularly needed in career and technical education. The emphasis is on beginning competencies that may be taught as an entire entrepreneurship class or included as part of other courses related to entrepreneurship. For example, cash flow problems could be used in a math class, and sales demonstrations could be part of a communications class.

Stage 3- CREATIVE APPLICATIONS

There is so much to learn about starting and running a business it is not surprising that so many businesses have trouble. We expect future doctors to learn their profession through years of formal study, yet we have expected small business owners to learn everything by attending weekend seminars.

At this stage, students can take time to explore business ideas and a variety of ways to plan the business. Although, it is still only an educational experience, students must gain a greater depth and breadth of knowledge than they may have from previous stages. This stage encourages students to create a unique business idea and carry the decision-making process through a complete business plan. The best programs enable students to actually experience the operation of a business as well. This stage may take place in advanced high school career and technical programs, two-year colleges where there are special courses and/or associate degree programs, and some colleges and universities. The outcome is for students to learn how it might be possible to become an entrepreneur and to practice the processes of business.

Stage 4- STARTUP

After adults have had time to gain job experience and/or further their education, many are in need of special assistance to assemble a business idea. Community education programs focusing on business startup assistance are widely available in career and technical programs, community-based assistance programs, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities. The U.S. Small Business Administration sponsors many of these training programs.

Stage 5- GROWTH

Often, business owners do not seek help until it is almost too late. A series of continuing seminars or support groups can assist the entrepreneur in recognizing potential problems and how to deal with them in a thorough and timely manner. Many community colleges and continuing education programs at universities or colleges offer such seminars and workshops for their business community. They recognize that the best economic development plan is to help the community’s existing businesses grow and prosper.

Educators at each of these stages of entrepreneurship should focus on their own special outcomes, and reach out for partnerships with educators at other levels of this lifelong learning process. There is room for entrepreneurship in some way everywhere in our educational system.
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education believes …

In meetings with entrepreneurs across the years, the Consortium has established the following concepts that we believe are the basic foundation for the importance of entrepreneurship education:

1. Entrepreneurs are not "born"…they "become" through the experiences of their lives

2. Entrepreneurs have a great diversity of personal characteristics, the common one: being willing to take a risk in return for a profit.

3. Anyone can be an entrepreneur at any time of one’s life.

4. Although there is no educational degree requirement to become an entrepreneur, it is helpful to have developed good support skills including communications, interpersonal abilities, economic understanding, digital skills, marketing, management, and math/finance skills.

5. Entrepreneurial ventures are the major source of new jobs in the economy…for the owner and for new employees.

6. Entrepreneurship is NOT learned by reading a textbook and then taking a test to prove you are one.

7. Young people can build confidence in their abilities to become entrepreneurs in their future as a result of a variety of entrepreneurial activities provided throughout education.

8. Entrepreneurship education activities are a real-life vehicle for developing academic skills.

9. Entrepreneurship Education enables employees to be more successful as a result of understanding the operations of a small business and the problems of their boss.

10. Entrepreneurs are found in every occupation or career cluster

11. Entrepreneurship education opportunities are important at all levels of education, from experiences for elementary school children through skill development for existing entrepreneurs.

12. The definition of "entrepreneurship success" varies with reaching the goals of the individual, from part-time income to fast-growing corporate structures.

We suggest that you use these beliefs as the foundation for a discussion about the importance of entrepreneurship education in your community and educational setting.