Challenge-based Learning: How to Support the Development of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Abstract

An entrepreneurial mindset is a special attitude or cognitive pattern enabling people to recognize opportunities in changes, and act in uncertain environments and without regard to the resources that are currently under their control. People with an entrepreneurial mindset actively shape their own future and our society. Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset is therefore not only relevant for the education of future founders; it is the key to harnessing the opportunities of technological development in such a way that we change our society for the better. This chapter discusses the significance, antecedents, and elements of an entrepreneurial mindset, and explores which didactic methods can be used to promote it in higher education. The authors describe their own experiences with the method of challenge-based learning, a further permutation of experiential learning that supports the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. The benefits of the approach will be discussed in the context of related educational theory and educational psychology to show that challenge-based learning can lead to innovative formats and can also be integrated into traditional settings, including courses that are not related to entrepreneurship at all.

Prerequisites and the Success of Transformative Entrepreneurship Education

“…Instead, against the background of constructivist didactics, EE involves offering individuals a teaching-learning arrangement, and not imposing it on them, allowing them to make their own learning experiences in a self-determined manner. This is in line with current work on experience-based learning (Williams , such as service learning (Schank et al, 2020) or challenge-based learning (Hölzner and Halberstadt, 2022).…”

The portrayal of SME leaders in Kuwait on SDG 12

“…Entrepreneurs in SMEs have more freedom to make decisions than corporate managers because their environmental motivation is more straightforward and committed (Williams and Schaefer, 2013). Entrepreneurs are known to take risky challenges and act upon it by opening new ventures through new ideas within the market (Hoppe and Namdar, 2023), and entrepreneurs tend have the right skills and traits to lead innovation especially towards a positive approach towards future change (H€ olzner and Halberstadt, 2022). For this purpose, SDG 12 is defined to help businesses to create better decision-making to protect the environment and to become more sustainability (Crammond, 2023).…”