The importance of entrepreneurial learning on the example of the South East European Center for entrepreneurial learning in Croatia

  • Sanja Maleković Institute for Development and International Relations
  • Sanja Tišma Institute for Development and International Relations
  • Ivana Keser Institute for Development and International Relations
Keywords: life-long learning, entrepreneurial learning concept, education and training,

Abstract


The paper focuses on the experience in development of entrepreneurial learning (EL) policy in South and East Europe (SEE), as a result of activities implemented by the South East European Center for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) in Croatia. It aims to explore whether the EL concept, as promoted and developed by SEECEL, can also contribute to development of an entrepreneurial mindset and behaviour, creative thinking, as well as enhancing the development of individual’s entrepreneurial characteristics regardless of their ambition to start/conduct some business. The authors also seek to explore the relevance of the exchange of experience, effective partnership and cooperation of all involved education and other institutions and actors engaged in policy support for further development of the EL approach in SEE. The authors address different perspectives and understandings of the EL concept, point out to the existence of different schools of thought on EL, and consider the interaction between learning and entrepreneurship, which asks for novel and rigorous theorizing.

References

Baker A.C., Jensen P.J., & Kolb D.A. (2005). Conversation as experiential learning. Management Learning, 36(4), 411-427. doi:10.1177/1350507605058130.

Bartlett, W. (2013). International Assistance Programmes and the Reform of Vocational Education in the Western Balkans: Sources of Policy Failure. Southeastern Europe, 37, 330-348. doi:10.1163/18763332-03703005.

Burgoyne, J.G., & Hodgson, V.E. (1983). Natural learning and managerial action: A phenomenological study in the field setting. Journal of Management Studies, 20(3), 387-399. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.1983.tb00214.x.

Carayannis, E.G., Evans, D., & Hanson, M. (2003). A cross-cultural learning strategy for entrepreneurship education: outline of key concepts and lessons learned from a comparative study of entrepreneurship students in France and the US. Technovation, 23(9), 757-771. doi:10.1016/S0166-4972(02)00030-5.

Cope, J. (2005). Toward a dynamic learning perspective of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(4), 373-397. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2005.00090.x.

Corbett, A.C. (2005). Experiential learning within the process of opportunity identification and exploitation. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(4), 473-491. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2005.00094.x.

Daudelin, M.W. (1996). Learning from experience through reflection. Organizational Dynamics, 24(3), 36-48. doi:10.1016/S0090-2616(96)90004-2.

European Commission. (2012). Effects and impact of entrepreneurship programmes in higher education. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_type=254&lang=en&item_id=5894.

Fiet, J.O. (2001). The pedagogical side of entrepreneurship theory. Journal of Business Venturing, 16(2), 101-117. doi:10.1016/S0883-9026(99)00042-7.

Gibb, A.A. (2002). In pursuit of a new ‘enterprise’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ paradigm for learning: creative destruction, new values of doing things and new combinations of knowledge. International Journal of Management Review, 4(3), 233-269. doi:10.1111/1468-2370.00086.

Gibb, A.A. (2005). Towards the Entrepreneurial University: Entrepreneurship Education as a lever for change. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from http://irandanesh.febpco.com/FileEssay/karafarin-c-1386-10-30-m21.pdf.

Gribben, A.A. (2013). Entrepreneurial learning: Keystone to an entrepreneurial culture. INFORM, 16, 1-4.

Harrison, R.T., & Leitch. C.M. (2005). Entrepreneurial learning: Researching the interface between learning and the entrepreneurial context. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(4), 351-371. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2005.00089.x.

Heinonen, J., & Poikkijoki, S.A. (2006). An entrepreneurial-directed approach to entrepreneurship education: mission impossible? Journal of Management Development, 25(1), 80-94. doi:10.1108/02621710610637981.

Holcomb, T.R., Ireland, R.D., Holmes Jr., R.M., & Hitt, M.A. (2009). Architecture of Entrepreneurial Learning: Exploring the Link Among Heuristics, Knowledge, and Action. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: Special Issue on Strategic Entrepreneurship, 33(1), 173-198. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2008.00285.x.

Kakkonen, M.L. (2010). Entrepreneurial Learning and Learning Strategies of the First Year Business Students in Higher Education. International Journal of Euro-Mediterranean Studies, 3(1), 85-102.

Karajić, D., Dabić, M., & Cingula, M. (2012). Interaction among national experts for the entrepreneurial learning, within pan-European network. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 37, 247-256. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.291.

Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Maleković, S., & Tišma, S. (2011). Evaluating Pre Accession Assistance – Rethinking its Effectiveness in Promoting Developmental Change. In: 9th International Conference on Enterprise in Transition: proceedings. Split: Faculty of Economics.

McLaughlin, R., & Thorpe, R. (1993). Action learning – a paradigm in emergence: The problems facing a challenge to traditional management education and development. British Journal of Management, 4(1), 19-27. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8551.1993.tb00158.x.

Minniti, M., & Bygrave W. (2001). A dynamic model of entrepreneurial learning. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 23(4), 41-52.

Mumford, A. (1994). A Review of Action Learning Literature. Management Bibliographies and Reviews, 20(6/7), 2-16.

Pittaway, L., Gazzard, J., Shore, A., & Williamson, T. (2012). Entrepreneurial learning through experience: The hidden role of student clubs in management education. Center for Entrepreneurial Learning and Leadership. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from http://eagleentrepreneur.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/entrepreneurial_learning_through_experience_v1-3111.pdf.

Politis, D. (2005). The process of entrepreneurial learning: A conceptual framework. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(4), 399-424. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2005.00091.x.

Rae, D. (2000). Understanding entrepreneurial learning: a question of how? International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 6(3), 145-159. doi:10.1108/13552550010346497.

Rae, D., & Carswell, M. (2001). Towards a conceptual understanding of entrepreneurial learning. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 8(2), 150-158. doi:10.1108/EUM0000000006816.

Rae, D. (2006). Entrepreneurial learning: A conceptual framework for technology-based enterprise. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 18(1), 39-56. doi:10.1080=09537320500520494.

Rae, D. (2009). Connecting entrepreneurial learning and action learning in student-initiated new business ventures: The case of speed. Action Learning: Research and Practice, 6(3), 289-303. doi:10.1080/14767330903301799.

Rae, D. (2011). Inspiring Entrepreneurial Learning in the New Era, The Inspiring Enterprise Conference, Glyndwr University. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from http://vimeo.com/25400146.

Raelin J.A. (1997). A model of work-based learning. Organization Science, 8(6), 563-578. doi:10.1287/orsc.8.6.563.

Sogunro, O.A. (2004). Efficacy of role-playing pedagogy in training leaders: some reflections. Journal of Management Development, 23(4), 355-371. doi:10.1108/02621710410529802.

Tafra, V. (2011). Nacionalna strategija učenja za poduzetništvo. In: V. Tafra & I. Tafra (Eds.), Učenje za poduzetništvo (pp. 17- 33). Zagreb. In Croatian.

Tkalec, Z. (2011). Definicija i karakteristike poduzetništva kao ključne kompetencije cjeloživotnog učenja. In: V. Tafra & I. Tafra (Eds.), Učenje za poduzetništvo (pp. 35- 43). Zagreb. In Croatian.

Van’t Rood, R., & Maleković, S. (2012). Independent external evaluation, evaluation report of the SEECEL activities 2009-2012. Zagreb: SEECEL.

Published
2016/05/13
Section
Original Scientific Paper