How to Teach Entrepreneurship to Engineers? Case Study of Gdansk University of Technology

Authors

  • Julita E. Wasilczuk Politechnika Gdańska Wydział Zarządzania i Ekonomii
  • Anita Richert-Kaźmierska Politechnika Gdańska Wydział Zarządzania i Ekonomii

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24917/20833296.13.26

Keywords:

educational dilemmas, entrepreneurship, Gdansk University of Technology, teaching methods

Abstract

Entrepreneurship as behavioural trait is identified as one of the determinants of achieving personal and professional success. Meanwhile, the Polish education system seems to omit the economic (entrepreneurial) education in its obligatory educational programs. The mandatory education in entrepreneurship takes place only at the upper secondary education (level 3 - ISCED 2011). At the tertiary education it is reserved almost exclusively for business studies (Studenci ostatniego roku, 2010). It is up to the authorities of educational institutions - on each level of education - to decide (and find finances) to include courses of entrepreneurship into basic educational programs. The main aim of the paper is to present the Gdansk University of Technology experiences in establishing the complex model of building up students’ entrepreneurial attitudes, including entrepreneurship teaching programs and curricula dedicated to future engineers. The authors also presented teaching methods (good practices) used in entre-preneurship courses for engineers and the list of competencies that students acquire through these type of classes. In-depth analysis of the substantive scope, teaching methods and the results (skills acquired by students) was performed for three selected courses of entrepreneurship realised by three different faculties.

Author Biographies

Julita E. Wasilczuk, Politechnika Gdańska Wydział Zarządzania i Ekonomii

Julita E. Wasilczuk, PhD DSc, Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Management and Economics, Department of Entrepreneurship and Economic Law. Teacher and researcher at Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Management and Economics, currently dean of the faculty. Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Economic Law. Main fields of research interest are: entrepreneurship and its different aspects, women in business, and the growth of SMEs. Leader and participant of researches focusing on small business in Pomeranian Region (Pomerania Economic Observatory) and panel research on entrepreneurial intentions (Survey of Entrepreneurship Attitude of Students – SEAS), conducted from 2008. Author and co-author of five books (referring to activity of small firms in economy and women entrepreneurship). The latest book is devoted to unproductive entrepreneurship (co – author). For many years engaged in the teaching of entrepreneurship, the author of the courses: entrepreneurship and marketing.

Anita Richert-Kaźmierska, Politechnika Gdańska Wydział Zarządzania i Ekonomii

Anita Richert-Kaźmierska, senior lecturer at Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Management and Economics. She holds a PhD in economics. Her research interests focus on entrepreneurship, socio-economic consequences of population ageing (macro and micro level), regional differences in the process of ageing and the impact of demography changes on economic policy.

References

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Published

2017-12-17

How to Cite

Wasilczuk, J. E., & Richert-Kaźmierska, A. (2017). How to Teach Entrepreneurship to Engineers? Case Study of Gdansk University of Technology. Entrepreneurship – Education, 13, 352–366. https://doi.org/10.24917/20833296.13.26

Issue

Vol. 13 (2017): Conditions for development of entrepreneurship

Section

Articles

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Articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 4.0; Attribution– NoDerivs).

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/