Issue 16

ERENET Profile Vol. IV, No. 4.
www.erenet.org
Prof. dr Svetislav Paunović
BBA - Faculty for Banking, Insurance and Finance
Belgrade
Serbia
E-mail: spaunovic@ien.bg.ac.yu
ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY – INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO LEARNING
AND/OR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WAY UNIVERSITIES OPERATE
Abstract
This paper elaborates the challenges of entrepreneurship education as one of the key elements for business
success. Having in mind that entrepreneurship is a highly creative and innovative process, it appears that traditional
educational techniques have not undergone significant changes and that educational processes still stress out values
and approaches, which are not supportive to entrepreneurial spirit and culture. Traditional programmes educate
«about entrepreneurship» rather than «for entrepreneurship», providing knowledge and information about key
elements of entrepreneurship, but fail to create and improve abilities and skills to implement entrepreneurial
behaviour in the real business environment. All participants in the entrepreneurship education process are expected
to shift from traditional methods of teaching to methods of learning which support entrepreneurial creativity and
intuition. It demands not only innovative approach to learning but also significant changes in the way universities
operate. Universities are expected to be entrepreneurial. Teachers and students should turn themselves into
entrepreneurs, while the interaction of the universities with the community should follow entrepreneurship patterns.
1. The role of entrepreneurship education and relevant EU policies
The importance of entrepreneurship education derives from the essence of entrepreneurship as a key
developmental resource, pro-active way of thinking that puts innovations in the middle of its interests. Ever
increasing dynamics of technological changes, globalisation and the increase of competitiveness and constant
change of know-how, first of all among information technologies, brings tremendous challenges to
entrepreneurs who are leaders of the new millennium. Entrepreneurship is crucially important for processes of
market positioning and preservation of competitive positions under the conditions of unpredictable
environment.
Many authors treat the issue of entrepreneurship as something mysterious, as flair, inspiration, a touch
of ingeniousness, or a form of art. In that context, a “great person” comes to the world with inborn talents
and inclinations for entrepreneurial behaviour. On the other hand, there are authors who claim that
entrepreneurship can be learned and applied in everyday business activities in an organised way, putting
emphasis on practical aspects and routine fulfilment of entrepreneurial duties 2 . The most creative elements of
entrepreneurial behaviour are always the most prominent, and innovations are understood in a wider context
(technical, economic, social). Entrepreneurship is treated as a very rare resource (thus a very expensive one)
which should be invested into. Entrepreneurial managers are in demand (and not those who behave by
routine), who initiate new projects and take over risks for the success of the whole business endeavour. The
main feature of the modern manager is an entrepreneurial spirit. Within that context, it is very important to
create appropriate organisational culture which supports entrepreneurship and innovative climate at all
organisational levels of the company.
Entrepreneurship has been recognised as a basic skill in the process of permanent (life-long) learning.
This is the reason why entrepreneurship education has been promoted and practically implemented in
educational system of the EU countries at all levels of both formal (from primary to university education) and
informal education. The EU Expert group defines entrepreneurship education not only as a process of
preparation, education and trainings for creating business, but in a wider context as a process of developing
2 see: Paunović S.: Preduzetništvo – od biznis ideje do realizacije; Univerzitet BK, Beograd, 2003,p. 23.
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