About, for, in or through entrepreneurship in engineering education

ABSTRACT

Engineering competences form a potential basis for entrepreneurship. There are pressures to find new approaches to entrepreneurship education (EE) in engineering education, as the traditional analytical logic of engineering does not match the modern view of entrepreneurship. Since the previous models do not give tangible enough tools on how to organise EE in practice, this article aims to develop a new framework for EE at the university level. We approach this aim by analysing existing scientific literature complemented by long-term practical observations, enabling a fruitful interplay between theory and practice. The developed framework recommends aspects in EE to be emphasised during each year of the study process. Action-based learning methods are highlighted in the beginning of studies to support students’ personal growth. Explicit business knowledge is to be gradually increased only when professional, field-specific knowledge has been adequately accumulated.

Keywords:

• Engineering education
• entrepreneurship education
• entrepreneurial mindset
• entrepreneurial behaviour

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr Mirja Väänänen for her valuable insight and constructive discussions.

Notes on contributors

Dr Soili Mäkimurto-Koivumaa has over 20 years' experience in engineering education. She is currently Principal Lecturer and responsible for Master' Degree Programmes at Lapland University of Applied Sciences in engineering education. She has taken her Master' degree in Economics at the University of Oulu in 1985 and her PhD in Entrepreneurship at the same university in 2012. Her main research interests are entrepreneurship education and action-based learning methods.

Dr Pekka Belt obtained his PhD in industrial engineering and management from the University of Oulu, Finland. Dr Belt has extensive industrial experience from several electronics enterprises, covering company functions from technology development to international marketing. Dr Belt' key research interests include entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, technology development, product development, and internationalisation of small high-tech companies.