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Enterprise Education in the GEES Disciplines

Brian Chalkley and Katrina GibsonUniversity of Plymouth

GEES Conference: Employability, Employer Engagement and Enterprise in the

GEES disciplines

Edinburgh2nd and 3rd July 2008

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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THE ENTERPRISE TEACHING

• Lectures on enterprise, entrepreneurship and team working

• Guest lecturers from local enterprises

• Supportive reading and websites

• The “Dragons Den” pitch

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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

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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

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GGX2108 THE STUDENT VIEWSOME CONCERNS

• Group work assessment

• Reluctance to perform in public

• Early morning lectures (!)

• No relevance to some future careers? “I want to be a teacher”

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WINNERS OF THE 2007 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION

(Plymouth Geographers)

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WINNERS OF THE 2008 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION

(Plymouth Geographers)

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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!

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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