Educators from 50 countries contribute to global entrepreneurial skills project

As Phase 2 of the Erasmus+ ‘EntreCompEdu’ CPD project concludes, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, which is a lead partner, has much to celebrate with the contribution of the many educators registered from over 50 countries – including 10 from UWTSD’s sister institution, the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) .

The project seeks to empower teachers to rethink the skills they have and how they can be used to foster entrepreneurial skills in their learners. The vision being “a world in which every learner has the entrepreneurial skills to be part of a workforce that is alert and responsive to change, and capable of designing and implementing new solutions to complex problems.”

Following a three-month entrepreneurial learning journey with trainer Felicity Healey-Benson from the University’s International Institute for Creative Entrepreneurial Development (IICED), 10 members of IUMW, drawn from biotechnology, biology, business, media, literature, and advanced technology have now become the first Global Cross-Faculty EntreCompEdu Pioneers.

Professor Michael Fernando, Dean of Strategic Academic Planning at UWTSD said: “This project demonstrates the partnership commitment between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW). The EntreCompEdu project was co-curated and designed by academics at both institutions for the benefit of the wider academic community. The peer cross-sharing among the first cohort of Global Cross-Faculty EntreCompEdu Pioneers will enhance the experience of our students. The entrepreneurship agenda shared in our classrooms will benefit our students as they progress towards employment in a post-covid world.”

 A team evidencing the power of energetic peer cross-sharing through the shared language of EntreComp has created a framework to stimulate entrepreneurial competence development and support cross-collaborative value creation work across disciplines.

The team also took advantage of the multi-country educator EntreCompEdu Group forum which encourages the sharing of ideas, questions, and practices from its multi-country participants drawn from the full range of educational settings and contexts.

“EntreCompEdu gave me a wider knowledge on how to creatively integrate entrepreneurial skills in the teaching and learning process, exposing me to new approaches and innovation to engage our students for 21st century learning” said Asha Nair Ganeser, English Lecturer at IUMW’s Centre of Foundation, Language and Malaysian Studies.

Aminuddin Baharudin, also noting an uplift in instilling entrepreneurial skills said: “I see the changes in my students, and they do as well!”.  

Representing participants from the Biotechnology Programme, Shahril Efzueni Rozali said the course helped unlock the entrepreneurial potential of his students, so important in the context of the biotechnology industry today.

Dr Sharmila K. N. Sethumadavan from the Business department commented that the EntreCompEdu had provided a clear working model of how students can engage with the real-world right from the beginning of their studies. “This CPD design has helped me bring the world into the classroom, illuminating how entrepreneurship education is about self-education and support life-long learning,” he added. 

Elilarasi Letshmanan, explained how she had employed the EntreCompEdu training to cultivate and monitor multiple entrepreneurship skills development amongst her Chemistry students, adding: “I would recommend this training for all educators.”

Dr Ashley Ng Sok Choo, Smart Tech and Robotics Engineering said “the EntreCompEdu experience has opened up my insights on creative learning.” Dr Ong Chong Boon highlighted new inspiration on designing activities where his students could more easily identify potentially significant scientific advances in the biotechnology area for valuable commercial and wider value creation opportunities. “The flow of learning in the CPD, and the activities, meaningful to their realities were perfect for experiential learning for the address of SDGs,” he added.

Felicity Healey-Benson, lead trainer at UWTSD said: “It has been a privilege to facilitate this CPD with this great team. I have been taken aback at the powerful inclusivity and applicability of the EntreComp framework to all disciplines. It has been most inspiring to work alongside such committed educators, and listen in on their reflection as they worked to creatively engage their students, drawn from the sciences, arts, business, engineering, and language, from undergraduate to doctoral level, as they help them self-identify opportunities for collaboration and value creation.” 

 Dr Nisa Omar, Acting Dean Faculty of Arts & Science at IUMW said: “We are now skilled and equipped to take the entrepreneurship agenda forward, developing and assessing for and through value creation, but also infusing the entrepreneurial mindset into the wider university.” Next steps, said Dr Nisa, include gathering, showcasing, and celebrating the educator and student stories, with further plans ahead to embed multi and cross-disciplinary collaborative themes to further embed the entrepreneurial principles.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk