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Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught?
A new study of Babson College alumni reveals that students who take just two or more courses in entrepreneurship are more likely to become entrepreneurs.
Posted 6/ 27 11 at 1:30 PM | News, Starting a Business, Education
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A new study by Babson College reveals that students who take two or more entrepreneurship courses are more likely to become actual entrepreneurs.The study, which surveyed the careers of 3,755 Babson College alumni who graduated between 1985 and 2009, concluded that one course in entrepreneurship didn't have as strong an influence on students, probably because those students realized after completing the course that they didn't want to be entrepreneurs.
Writing a student business plan had a "significant influence" on alumni starting businesses, though not as strong as the influence of taking two more core courses.
The study also revealed that having entrepreneurial parents had little to no effect on the intentions of the students who pursued entrepreneurship.
There was no difference between undergrad and MBA students when it came to intending to or actually becoming an entrepreneur. Full-time students were more likely to intend to become entrepreneurs, but were not more likely than part-time students to actually start businesses.
Despite their intentions, alumni reported giving up their dreams of entrepreneurship for several reasons, including increasing familial commitments, the financial risk of losing a salaried job and the increase in their corporate salaries. Meanwhile, males and those dissatisfied with their job were more likely to follow through on their entrepreneurial intentions.
"We think that entrepreneurship should be taught not only for the production and training of entrepreneurs but also to help students decide if they have the right stuff to be entrepreneurs before they embark on careers for which they may be ill-suited," wrote the researchers involved.
The researchers added, "At a more abstract level, we believe that entrepreneurship should be taught to every business student because it is the very origin of all businesses."
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Entrepreneurship also forces you to think about yourself in new ways. I absolutely agree that it should be taught because it encourages innovative and unique ways of thinking, and can inspire people to be accountable for their own successes and failures. Great post.
Jessica
www.writeahead.ca
You can teach Entrepreneurship.... about as well as you can teach enthusiasm, motivation, cleanliness, hard work, punctuality, healthy living, honesty, truthfulness, timing, balance, and diligence..... in other words you can't. It's kinda like..just because you have ears doesn't mean that you can hear. I love a good "self proclaimed" entrepreneur... vs. the "other guy" who just does it.. and never thought of trying to label it... he just does it... cause that's what he does.. it's who he is and it can't be taught
Let's face it. College has trained us to passed examinations and get a job. Most of us are aware that a 'secured' job is just another gimmick that was used to brain-wash us becusue our services can be terminated at will. Anybody who is afraid of loosing a so-called 'secured' job and all the short term benefits that goes with it should not consider entrepreneurship.Entrepreneurs are a rare breed of people.They are visionaries who are stubborn, discipline,and focused. They are People who are willing to sacrifice everything to achieve success. I am a die hare entrepreneur. You can log on to my website www.ConsultantBarry.com
Attention anyone who fits under the description in the above reply by Clem Berry,06/28/2011:
" Anybody who is afraid of loosing a so-called 'secured' job and all the short term benefits that goes with it should not consider entrepreneurship."
Please consider "voluntary supplemental benefits", which are portable from job-to-job, and are significantly inexpensive; you can get some good plans for about 1 hour's pay per week.
Rob
ejkrbc@aol.com