Entrepreneurial Skill Development: Harnessing Experience While Building Formal Knowledge and Quali ications in Business

Skills Development for National Development !r" Darren #ohn Ellis$ %niversit& o 'ew England$ (ustralia$ dellis)*une"edu"au

ABSTRACT +ne need onl& walk through the streets and markets o an& cit& or town in the developing world$ rom (sia to ( rica to South (merica and ,e&ond$ in order to see the vast arra& o entrepreneurial skills on displa&" ( core challenge acing those who right ull& view education as a power ul means o empowerment and development is how to e ectivel& and success ull& harness this work and li e experience and channel it into ormal education" -t is a well esta,lished view that success ul courses o ormal education tend to ,e those that are relevant and meaning ul to the lives o students" But how to encourage prospective students into such stud& when their ormal schooling is not considered su icient to gain direct entr& into a course o post.secondar& stud&/ 0ikewise$ ,usiness courses have an argua,l& well deserved reputation or ,eing ver& expensive" 1his paper argues that partnerships are re2uired ,etween education providers and non.governmental organisations 3'4+s5 to provide a orda,le and lexi,le pre.tertiar& ,usiness 2uali ications 3diplomas and certi icates5 at a distance" 1his ,usiness ocused education would seek to ,oth ormalise and expand the knowledge and experience o entrepreneurs" 1he resulting 2uali ications could then ,e used ,& such students$ in com,ination with work and li e experience$ to gain entr& into ormal tertiar& level studies" 1he drive$ motivation and tenacit& o entrepreneurs throughout the developing world represent a valua,le human resource that would link well with ormal distance ,usiness education" 1he current ,arriers to access must ,e lowered or removed i entrepreneurial success is to ,e matched ,& ormal educational empowerment and longer term communit& development" INTRODUCTION Defining Entrepreneurship De ining what it means to ,e an entrepreneur is no eas& task" Harding 3677)$ p" 85 contends that one must 9de ine the concept rom the ground up:" Franco and Haase 3677;$ p" )<=5 maintain that a ,roader de inition is re2uired that views entrepreneurs as continual learners" ( recent World Economic Forum report into entrepreneurship education de ines an entrepreneur as someone who is creative$ innovative and risk taking$ and has an a,ilit& to translate 9ideas into action: 3>olkmann et al 677;$ p" ?@5" Dana 3677?$ p" A785 highlights the act that 9there is no universall&. accepted de inition o entrepreneurs or o entrepreneurship: in the literature" 1his evident lack o a comprehensive and widel& accepted de inition does not detract rom the realit& that entrepreneurship possesses distinctive eatures including 9a capacit& or innovation: 3Bruni$ 4herardi B Coggio 677A$ p" 68@5" 'or does this apparent de inition de icit alter the undamental and important role that entrepreneurship pla&s in promoting economic development and vitalit&" 1hus$ linking entrepreneurship and education has or 2uite some time ,een considered crucial in limiting and reducing rates 9o long term unemplo&ment: 3!ueller et al 677)$ p" <5" Entrepreneurship also widens and strengthens participation in economic activit&$ particularl& or historicall& marginalised groups such as women 3Hisrich B +Dturk ?;;;5" Eesearch into entrepreneurship indicates that data and indings rom the developed world 9need to ,e care ull& examined and tested: prior to ,eing utilised in the developing world 3Hisrich B +Dturk ?;;;$ p" ?6A5" Education and training regimes need to ,e applica,le and relevant to the ?

local context and environment 3Dana 677?$ p" A785" Even so$ Harding 3677)$ p" )5 points out that entrepreneurs are inherentl& lexi,le and adapta,le and are not irreversi,l& linked to their ethnic$ cultural or economic surroundings" -n this context$ knowledge is now seen as a central 9concept in social and economic advancement: 3Franco B Haase 677;$ p" )6@5" What do seem consistent and uni orm are higher 2ualit& learning outcomes or those entrepreneurs who 9engage in action learning events: 3!ueller et al 677)$ p" ?@5" (ction learning revolves around a pragmatic approach to education that seeks to provide students with opportunities outside the traditional classroom environment 9to meaning ull& re lect on academic su,Fects: 3!ueller et al 677)$ pp" A.85" 0ikewise$ inancial assistance alone is not su icient to develop more e ective and success ul entrepreneurs$ rather 9vocational education and training: are in man& cases more ,ene icial 3Dana 677?$ p" A7@5" (scertaining what needs to ,e taught in terms o entrepreneurship education is no eas& task as no ormula exists or what constitutes entrepreneurship to ,egin with 3Dana 677?$ p" A?A5" 1aatila 367?7$ pp" 8).8=5 highlights the need or learning to take place in the relevant ,usiness environment$ while also detailing the need or real.li e case studies ,ased around student.centred and pragmatic pedagogical approaches" Clum& et al 3677@$ pp" ?;.675 agree$ stating that 9realit&. ,ased pedagogies: em,edded in courses anchored to skill.,uilding are ,etter suited to entrepreneurship education than more traditional methodologies that ocus on knowledge ,uilding$ such as in accounting or management" Bringing together the workplace and learning$ while 9integrating theor& and practice:$ are ke& to implementing e ective entrepreneurship education 30eppisaari$ 1enhunen B Kleimola 677@$ p" )5" 4iven that entrepreneurship represents an ongoing d&namic c&cle o learning$ it is surprising that there is somewhat o a gap in the organisational learning literature on this topic 3Franco B Haase 677;$ p" )6;5" 'evertheless$ Cluml& et al 3677@$ p" ?;5 detail a range o ke& skill ,uilding areas that the& recommend covering$ including communication$ leadership$ teamwork$ negotiation$ strategic planning$ ,asic ,usiness law$ innovation and technolog&$ and product li e.c&cle and development" NGOs an Entrepreneurship 'on.governmental organisations 3'4+s5 have a vital role to pla& in promoting economic development$ and this is certainl& the case when it comes to entrepreneurship education" -n act$ ,oth 9economic development and political empowerment: are now central themes amongst man& development. ocused '4+s$ particularl& when it comes to women and other marginalised groups in societ& 3EaFasekaran 677;$ p" )=5" (s Ste anovic 3677=$ p" )5 states$ an increasing num,er o partnerships are taking place ,etween '4+s$ local and international ,usinesses and government agencies" For example$ '4+s are involved with 9small ,usiness management: education in -ndia$ while the Entrepreneurship Development -nstitute o -ndia 3ED--5 promotes through training and other activities 9development$ emplo&ment generation and povert& alleviation: 3Dana 677?$ pp" A7).A7=5" '4+s are also well placed to unite with other 9grass.roots agencies: and communit& groups to draw more people into ormal training and education 3>olkmann et al 677;$ p" ;65" -n addition$ '4+s are well situated to implement teaching and learning models and practices that are more organic and lexi,le than traditional education providers 31esone 677A$ p" 8=5" EaFasekaran 3677;$ p" 8?5 argues that '4+s over the past decade or so have contri,uted in more signi icant and lasting wa&s to the prosperit& and development o poorer communities and countries through the provision o education$ than the millions 3i not ,illions5 o dollars spent on more traditional aid programs" '4+s can help to make education more a orda,le and more accessi,le$ helping to ensure 9that the poor are not priced out o the s&stem: 3Datt 6777$ para" <?5" Gom,ined with this$ the adoption o adult distance education 3DE5 is ,est placed to respond to ever increasing demands on the tertiar& education sector 3Kumi.He,oah 67?7$ p" 675" Education and training can ,e provided across a ,road spectrum rom ,asic courses in literac& to 9training in livelihood enhancement: through to ormal courses in entrepreneurship 3'uruddeen B Wada 67?7$ p" ??5" (s 'uruddeen and Wada 367?7$ p" ??5 point out$ such a diverse range o courses when linked to micro inance 6

programs aimed at improving credit access$ go a long wa& toward alleviating povert&" 1his ,eing the case$ it is not all a,out mone&$ resources and access" Entrepreneurship distance students also re2uire a supportive network o educators and ellow students to at least partiall& o .set the realit& that most are 9 irst.generation learners: with a conse2uent lack o amilial and social educational guidance and support$ o ten taken or granted ,& middle class students 3Datt 6777$ para" ??5" 0ikewise$ DE usuall& represents the onl& via,le option availa,le to most emplo&ed adults$ such as entrepreneurs$ with research indicating that man& would not ,e a,le to undertake ormal stud& without this option 3Crie,e$ Eoss B 0ow 677@$ p" ??5" '4+s and education providers need to work closel& together and ,e acutel& aware o the o,stacles to DE and e.learning$ namel&$ 9connectivit&$ e2uipment$ so tware and training: 3Daniel 677;5" ( holistic approach would likel& see '4+s and education providers make power ul partners" !artnerships" NGOs # E u$ation !rovi ers 1he one important area that traditional education providers and '4+s can unite around to leverage their individual expertise is DE" !an& education providers have a wealth o knowledge$ experience and expertise in distance e.learning$ with considera,le growth expected well into the oreseea,le uture 31esone 677A$ p" )A B Hale& 67?7$ p" 8@5" 0eppisaari$ 1enhunen and Kleimola 3677@$ p" ==5 maintain that entrepreneurship education re2uires colla,oration ,etween providers and the ,usiness world$ as well as new pedagogical models that harness in ormation and communications technolog& 3-G15 9in meaning ul wa&s:" 1he& go on to highlight the need or 9innovative online pedagogical learning solutions and authentic learning practices: 30eppisaari$ 1enhunen B Kleimola 677@$ p" ==5" >olkmann et al 3677;$ p" <85 state that 9entrepreneurship education must continue to pioneer use o digital learning strategies and techni2ues:" -n partnership with '4+s$ entrepreneurship DE is likel& to ,e promoted and implemented in wa&s that have a greater chance o reaching a much wider arra& o entrepreneurs who would otherwise not have access to such ormal education" Cartnerships with education providers and '4+s could also result in the design and implementation o a suite o short and medium term training regimes and packages with associated certi icates and diplomas" 1hese could then ,e entr& points or participants into other levels o ormal education and pro essional development" 1he concept o open universities 3+%5 where,& access is open to ever&one who applies is gaining traction in the developing world and highlights a range o valua,le opportunities and pit alls that are applica,le to the ideas put orth in this paper" 1here is little dou,t that opening access to higher education 3and education more generall&5 would help to counter the ,arriers created ,& traditional entr& s&stems that avour the elite in the developing world 3Kem,er 677=$ p" =<5" 1he pro,lem is that greater openness is onl& one part o the overall picture" ( lack o in rastructure$ particularl& in terms o -G1$ urther widens the gap ,etween those who have and those who do not$ creating amongst other things digital$ economic and educational divides 34ulati 677@ and Daniel 677;5" 1wigg 36776$ p" 65 contends that it is possi,le 9to make online learning a tool to widen access without compromising cost or 2ualit&:" However$ Kem,er 3677=$ p" =<5 cautions that high rates o drop.out need to ,e acknowledged in order to develop a more holistic picture and more complete and e ective strategies when it comes to reducing or a,olishing entr& ,arriers to higher education" 0ow adult literac& levels and dire economic circumstances mean that so man& people in the developing world simpl& do not have the ,asic skills nor the resources to ,egin with 34ulati 677@5" Even so$ rapidl& growing connectivit& and the increasing importance o open educational resources 3+EEs5 are likel& to see at least some o these ,arriers greatl& reduced in coming &ears 3Daniel$ Kanwar B %valiI.1rum,iI 677=$ pp" ? B ;5" Encouraging entrepreneurs into ormal education is as challenging as tr&ing to get them to transition rom the in ormal sector to the mainstream econom& 3Dana 677?$ p" A?A5" -n this context$ '4+s and education providers need to commit to long term approaches via ongoing colla,oration$ and ,& developing supportive networks or entrepreneurs 30eppisaari$ 1enhunen B Kleimola 677@$ p" @<5" Entrepreneurs tend to know other entrepreneurs 3Harding 677)$ p" )5 and so the low.on e ects o introducing ormal education and training to a particular entrepreneur or <

group are likel& to grow with time" Ste anovic 3677=$ p" @5 points out that entrepreneurs rom poor ,ackgrounds 3or the 9e.poor:5 might ,e living close to$ or indeed Fust ,elow$ the povert& lineJ however$ the& o ten have the capacit& to emplo& others" 1his Fo, creation potential can ,e urther enhanced through ormal education and training" 1he ongoing growth in entrepreneurship education in the developed world$ particularl& the %nited States$ is testament to the latent demand that exists or a greater ocus on developing skills in entrepreneurial 9creativit& and risk. taking:$ rather than solel& on traditional.st&le ,usiness education 3Cluml& et al 677@$ p" ?@5" '4+s are also ,etter placed to provide 9access to credit: to marginalised entrepreneurs like women who o ten ace enormous ,arriers when tr&ing to access resources 3Bruni$ 4herardi B Coggio 677A$ p" 6)<5" !oreover$ in -ndia the ED-- also demonstrates that although access to resources is ver& important$ so too are programs that improve personal con idence and motivate aspiring entrepreneurs$ in the process$ helping individuals to realise their hidden potential 3Dana 677?$ p" A7=5" CONC%UDING RE&AR'S Entrepreneurship education has vast potential to ,uild skills and competencies in entrepreneurs who through povert&$ marginalisation or other signi icant ,arrier would not otherwise ,e a,le to expand and develop their entrepreneurial skill set" (n e ective wa& to open up access to entrepreneurs with limited to no opportunit& to ormall& stud& is through colla,oration and partnership ,etween education providers and '4+s" Such a united e ort would ensure that the people who would ,ene it the most rom entrepreneurship education are indenti ied and supported in an ongoing and meaning ul manner" 1he skills and knowledge o the educational sector$ com,ined with the skills and experience o '4+s$ are likel& to result in improved skills and competencies in entrepreneurs$ who then in turn encourage greater social and economic participation$ growth and strength" RE(ERENCES Bruni$ ($ 4herardi$ S B Coggio$ B 677A$ 9Entrepreneur.mentalit&$ gender and the stud& o women entrepreneurs:$ Journal of Organizational Change and Management $ vol" ?=$ no" <$ pp" 68).68@" Daniel$ # 677;$ 9e0earning or development: using in ormation and communications technologies to ,ridge the digital divide:$ Article prepared for the Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book 2009$ Henle& !edia 4roup$ viewed ?7 #ul& 677;$ Khttp:LLwww"col"orgLresourcesLspeechesL677;presentationLCagesL677;.7).G!EB"aspxM" Daniel$ #$ Kanwar$ ($ B %valiI.1rum,iI$ S 677=$ 9!ass tertiar& education in the developing world: Distant prospect or distinct possi,ilit&/ Article su mitted to the !uropa "orld of #earning $ Commonwealth of #earning$ viewed ?6 #ul& 67?7$ Khttp:LLwww"col"orgLresourcesLspeechesL677=presentationsLCagesL677=.mass1ertiar&Ed"aspxM Dana$ 0C 677?$ 91he education and training o entrepreneurship in (sia:$ !ducation % &raining$ vol" A<$ no" @L;$ pp" A78.A?8" Datt$ E 6777$ 9-ndia: the e2uit& actor in education polic&:$ Business #ine$ !a& <7$ p" ?" Franco$ ! B Haase$ H 677;$ 9Entrepreneurship: an organisational learning approach:$ Journal of 'mall Business and !nterprise (e)elopment $ vol" ?)$ no" A$ pp" )6@.)A?" 4ulati$ S 677@ 91echnolog&.enhanced learning in developing nations: a review:$ *nternational Re)iew of Research in Open and (istance #earning$ vol" ;$ no" ?$ pp" ?.?)"

Hale&$ K' 67?7$ 9Wired and tired: the cool and the agon& o teaching online:$ Re)ista de Asistenta 'ociala$ -ss" ?$ pp" 8@.)< Harding$ E 677)$ 9Entrepreneurs: the world:s li eline/: Business 'trateg+ Re)iew$ Winter$ pp" A.=" Hisrich$ ED B +Dturk$ S( ?;;;$ 9Women entrepreneurs in a developing econom&:$ Journal of Management (e)elopment$ vol" ?@$ no" 6$ pp" ??A.?6A" Kem,er$ D 677=$ Reconsidering open , distance learning in the de)eloping world- meeting students. learning needs$ 0ondon$ Eoutledge" Kumi.He,oah$ ( 67?7$ 9( look at the trend o distance education and adult education in 4hana:$ *nternational /orum of &eaching and 'tudies$ vol" )$ no" ?$ pp" ?;.6=" 0eppisaari$ -$ 1enhunen$ !0 B Kleimola$ E 677@$ 9How to support entrepreneurial learning through an online pedagogical EBD proFect/ N Gase: continuator entrepreneurship:$ &he Business Re)iew0 Cam ridge$ vol" ;"$ no" 6$ pp"=).@<" !ueller$ #$ Hu$ D$ !in$ E B Dong$ S 677)$ 90and o the rising entrepreneurship: a description o rural emale entrepreneurship programmes in Ghina:$ Journal of Asia !ntrepreneurship and 'ustaina ilit+$ vol" 6$ no" ?$ pp" ?.A?" 'uruddeen$ -! B Wada$ B1 67?7$ 9(dult education$ entrepreneurship and povert& alleviation among Kano housewives:$ ''R1 "orking 2aper 'eries$ pp" ?.?)$ viewed ?6 #ul& 67?7$ Khttp:LLpapers"ssrn"comLsol<Lpapers"c m/a,stractOidP?8;)6)<M Cluml&$ 0W$ !arshall$ 00$ Eastman$ #$ -&er$ E$ Stanle&$ K0 B Boatright$ # 677@$ 9Developing entrepreneurial competencies: a student ,usiness:$ Journal of !ntrepreneurship !ducation$ vol" ??$ pp" ?=.??@" Crie,e$ 0G$ Eoss$ 10 B 0ow$ KW 677@$ 9Exploring the role o distance education in ostering e2uita,le universit& access or irst generation students: a phenomenological surve&:$ *nternational Re)iew of Research in Open and (istance #earning $ vol" ;$ no" ?$ pp" ?.?6" EaFasekaran$ ' 677;$ 9'on.governmental development organiDations in -ndia: a SW+1 anal&sis:$ &he *32 Journal of Managerial !conomics$ vol" >--$ no" 6$ pp" 87.);" Ste anovic$ ! 677=$ 9'ew ,usiness.'4+ partnerships help the world:s poorest:$ *nternational &rade /orum$ -ss" 6$ pp" ).@" 1aatila$ >C 67?7$ 90earning entrepreneurship in higher education:$ !ducation % &raining$ vol" 86$ no" ?$ pp" A@.)?" 1esone$ D> 677A$ 9Fourth generation online learning or ,usiness and hospitalit& management schools: so ar$ so ast:$ Journal of Applied Management and !ntrepreneurship $ vol" ;$ no" 6$ pp" 8=.))" 1wigg$ G$ 6776$ *mpro)ing 4ualit+ , reducing costs- designs for effecti)e learning using information technolog+$ (ssociation o Gommonwealth %niversities and %niversities %K$ 0ondon" >olkmann$ G$ Wilson$ KE$ !ariotti$ S$ Ea,uDDi$ D$ >&akarnam$ S B Sepulveda$ ( 677;$ 9Educating the next wave o entrepreneurs: unlocking entrepreneurial capa,ilities to meet the glo,al challenges o the 6?st Gentur& N a report o the 4lo,al Education -nitiative$ "orld !conomic /orum$ pp" ?.?@A$ viewed 66 !a& 67?7$ http:LLwww"we orum"orgLpd L4E-L677;LEntrepreneurshipOEducationOEeport"pd 8