What is Entrepreneurial Mindset Education?

Entrepreneurial Mindset Education provides resources for higher education academics to support teaching, research, professional and organisational development.

Entrepreneurial Mindset Education is a special interest group of the global Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. The Network’s vision is that everybody can benefit from an entrepreneurial mindset. The mindset is relevant not only to entrepreneurs but also to everyone engaged in higher education including students, educators, researchers, professional services staff and leaders.

It is quick, easy and free to join the Network. Simply press the [JOIN] button at the top of this page. We encourage you to add your membership to your CV and we will provide you with instructions so that you can add your membership to your LinkedIn profile. Followers of the Network’s company page on LinkedIn come from 79 countries.

What are the benefits of joining the Network?

Take advantage of our teaching resources, for students of any academic discipline: a practical definition of the entrepreneurial mindset, a book offering a step-by-step practical guide, Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) tools, and a student workshop.

Make use of our research resources: MBA tools for students and for supervisors, and a research workshop.

Use our professional development resources: inspiring mindset examples shared by educators from around the world, opportunities for global networking, and an educator workshop exploring the application of the mindset in teaching & research.

Develop your organisation by using our E-STAR quality criteria for the application of the entrepreneurial mindset in higher education, undertake a self-assessment, get feedback from a peer review, and gain a competitive advantage with E-STAR accreditation.

What are the latest mindset examples in higher education?

The EXPRESS eZINE continues to build up a diverse range of mindset examples which showcase the use of the entrepreneurial mindset in the world of higher education. The titles of the higher education articles and the names of the authors are shown below. Click on any image to read the article. You also have the option to download a PDF. Use the ideas in the articles to find inspiration, reflect on your own practice and stimulate your action planning.

What is the EXPRESS eZINE?

EXPRESS is the eZINE published three times a year by the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network.  Since 2018, the eZINE has featured authors from 48 countries who have expressed their views about the entrepreneurial mindset and shared numerous mindset examples. All 19 issues of the eZINE are available on the website Entrepreneurial Mindset Express.

How can you share your mindset example from higher education?

We welcome articles, opinion pieces and interviews on any aspect of higher education and the entrepreneurial mindset. The focus is reflection on practice and sharing lessons learned. The typical word length is somewhere between 400 and 800 words. To discuss your idea or to receive questions if you would prefer to be interviewed or to submit your draft article, simply use the contact details at the end of this page.

What is EXCHANGE?

EXCHANGE is an ongoing series of webinars organised by the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. The webinars are an opportunity for you to engage in international networking, to meet new people, to exchange ideas and to gain new insights. People who have registered for the webinars to date came from 52 countries.

How is EXCHANGE distinctive?

What is distinctive and adds extra value for participants is the emphasis on interaction and the expert facilitation of an inclusive conversation. We aim for an honest exchange of views between network members and the co-creation of actions to support change in higher education.

What has the feedback been?

Feedback received from participants  includes: * Beautifully designed forum with insightful speakers * A great atmosphere * It's been excellent * I’m really happy to be part of this team * A great conversation * Great forum which adds value for all * A highly relevant, tightly structured but still dynamic conversation *

How do I join the next webinar?

EXCHANGE webinars are advertised in advance on LinkedIn by Paul Coyle, the Director of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. The advert includes a description of the webinar topic and speakers, with a link to register on Zoom. Press the [Connect] button on  Paul's LinkedIn profile so that EXCHANGE adverts will appear in your LinkedIn feed.

How can I get more involved?

Scaling Higher Education Innovation using the Entrepreneurial Mindset (SHINE) is an ongoing international project involving business, healthcare and education professionals. You can apply to join this project on the Entrepreneurial Mindset SHINE website. Paul Coyle, the Director of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network is the SHINE project leader and an invited member of the OECD's EECOLE (Entrepreneurship Education Collaboration and Engagement) Network.

Can I access past webinars?

After each EXCHANGE webinar, rather than simply uploading a full video recording, a written summary is created, highlighting the key points made by the speakers and participants. The PDF of the summary can be read online or downloaded. A selection of webinar summaries is shown below. Click on any image to access the associated summary. To access the full set of summaries for all webinars go to the Entrepreneurial Mindset Exchange website.

How can I develop my mindset?

In a world that is increasingly complex and uncertain, the entrepreneurial mindset is a 'must have' and not just 'a nice to have’. Anyone can quickly learn to develop their entrepreneurial behaviours. You can start today. The Network provides a range of resources to help you to develop and make good use of the entrepreneurial mindset in your life and higher education career.

How can I learn to take action?

Our strategy is to help you to make the best use of your existing knowledge and skills.  We do this by asking you questions that are designed to stimulate your self-reflection and prompt you to take entrepreneurial action. There are no right or wrong answers. Each person will choose the actions that are most suited to their own needs and higher education context.

What resources can I use?

You can quickly understand what the entrepreneurial mindset is by reading our definition.  You will find inspiration in the many mindset examples in the EXPRESS eZINE and the summaries of the EXCHANGE webinars. You can go deeper by reading the entrepreneurial mindset book, joining a workshop and using our Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) tools.

How can I learn from the mindset definition?

You can quickly start to develop your entrepreneurial mindset by using our definition of the entrepreneurial mindset. Consider each of the seven essential entrepreneurial behaviours in turn. Use simple questions such as do I meet real needs and what can I do to improve? All the behaviours are important but which one is the one you want to focus on and develop?

How can I learn from the EXPRESS eZINE?

You will find a great deal of inspiration in the higher education articles in our EXPRESS eZINE written by authors from many countries and cultures. As you read an article ask yourself do you agree or disagree with the author? What do you find inspiring about their story? What action could you take? Do you want to share your own story in a future issue of the eZINE?

How can I learn from the EXCHANGE webinars?

Our EXCHANGE webinars offer you the opportunity to meet online and share ideas with an international network of higher education professionals.  You can also read about their experiences in the summaries of past webinars. How can these stories help you to improve your own practice? Are you going to register to join the next webinar? Do you want to be a future speaker?

Reviews

Get your hands on this inspiring step-by-step guide today! It will equip you with the tools you need to achieve success in a rapidly changing world. Enikő Koppány, Hungary, 2023.

A well-written, hands-on book. The reflective questions at the end of each chapter are an excellent guide to help people change their way of thinking.Bob Bastian, Italy, 2022.

This clear, engaging book has made me look at my work with fresh eyes, giving me a new sense of purpose. Highly recommended. Carolyn Howitt, United Kingdom, 2020.

A very helpful book that inspires the reader, stimulates his thought and excites his curiosity. Roberto Brambilla, Italy, 2020.

How to read the book

You can read the 3 introductory chapters of the book on screen for free on Google Play.

You can purchase the complete book for the equivalent of 7.99€ on Google Play. This gives you access to 7 additional detailed chapters, 1 for each of the 7 entrepreneurial behaviours, and 140 self-reflection questions. You can read the full book in your web browser, and online or offline using the Google Play Books app for Android, iPhone and iPad.

You can purchase a print copy for the equivalent of 12.99€ plus shipping costs.

All purchases are charged in the currency of your credit card.

What is a Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) tool?

A Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) is a FREE online tool designed to support higher education students, from any academic discipline, to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and put it into practice.  Students can use the MBA tool with the support of academics and in their own private study.  The MBA tool can help students to plan & deliver project work, research, assignments, pitches  and presentations.  Use of the MBA tool generates outputs that students can use to become an entrepreneur or to find a job in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.

How can students use the MBA tool? 

Students can access the MBA tool on any IT device or smartphone. A student is invited to answer a series of short questions that are designed to help them to understand the concept of the entrepreneurial mindset, to appreciate why the mindset is relevant to their studies and career plans, and also to decide what they can do to strengthen their entrepreneurial behaviours. On completion of the MBA tool, the results are immediately sent by email to the student so that they can continue to apply this personalised learning to the development of their entrepreneurial behaviours. An infographic introducing the MBA tools to students is available for download.

How can educators use the MBA tool with students?

Educators can use the MBA tool with students in tutorials, seminars, workshops and hackathons. It is recommended that educators first invite each student to complete their own MBA tool. Educators can then support deeper learning by facilitating small group discussions of the individual MBA results. Feedback from students is overwhelmingly positive. They are often surprised to find how relevant the mindset is and how quickly they can put it into practice. Educators have commented on the high level of engagement by students when using the MBA tools.

How were the MBA tools developed?

An MBA tool for Higher Education Students and another for PhD Students were developed by the SHINE Project (Scaling Higher Education Innovation using the Entrepreneurial Mindset), which is an international collaboration involving educators from 28 countries. The design, use and validity of MBA tools is an ongoing SHINE research investigation which is informed by published papers on the entrepreneurial mindset, reflective practice and entrepreneurship pedagogy.

What teaching support is on offer for educators?

A FREE teaching guide introduces educators to the MBA tools and provides advice about how to use the tools with individual students and groups. There are options for educators to purchase teaching support from mindset experts e.g. an MBA group report, which provides learning insights generated from the use of the tool by a group of students.  Additional options include 1:1 and group coaching, webinars and workshops. All paid content is tailored to the specific learning needs of students, based on their level of study and academic discipline. An infographic introducing the MBA tools to educators is available for download.

What MBA tools support  the development of educators?

If students are going to develop an entrepreneurial mindset then educators themselves must also have this same mindset. 4 MBAs support the development of educators: HE Educators, PhD Supervisors, HE Leaders, and Building Entrepreneurial Culture. Educators can also make use of the SHINE Project research and findings.  Educators are welcome to apply to become a member of this ongoing international collaboration which is investigating how Higher Education can scale up existing entrepreneurial and innovation capacity for the benefit of greater numbers of students and societal stakeholders.

What is distinctive about the mindset workshops?

All workshops are inclusive, engaging, and impactful.  Formal input is brief and to the point. The majority of time is spent in practical exercises, group discussions and action planning.  The workshops ensure that each person understands how to adopt more entrepreneurial behaviours, how to be more proactive and how to use the entrepreneurial mindset to make their unique contribution to the world.

Is the entrepreneurial mindset of value to all subject disciplines?

Students of any academic discipline can benefit from developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The study of entrepreneurial ways of thinking and acting should not be confined to the business school. The entrepreneurial mindset has value in the study of the arts, law, economics, psychology, sociology, computing, engineering, media, medicine and health.  

How does the entrepreneurial mindset support career planning?

The mindset empowers students to achieve their career ambitions not just as entrepreneurs but as employees in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Employers want students who have the right mindset and skills such as innovation, self-efficacy and leadership. The entrepreneurial mindset is not just about securing employment and creating economic value. It encourages and emboldens students to discover how they can make their unique contribution to the world.

What are the benefits for PhD research students?

Research students play a vital role in the creation of new knowledge and there is increasing emphasis in understanding and demonstrating the economic and social impact of this knowledge. The entrepreneurial mindset helps researchers to reflect on the applied nature of their research, to improve their innovation skills, to act ethically whilst also daring to take risks, to improve their productivity and to manage their career ambitions, especially given the challenges of securing permanent academic jobs.

How does the mindset help higher academic leaders?

If students are going to develop an entrepreneurial mindset then educators themselves must also have this same mindset. Otherwise how can they teach and assess it?  If educators are going to make use of the mindset then academic leaders must be also able to inspire educators and help them to understand how they can use the entrepreneurial mindset to enhance their teaching, research and external engagement. 

How does the mindset help all higher education leaders?

The mindset is also of value to a wide range of professional services, including libraries, learning resources, careers, research and knowledge exchange. The mindset supports improvements in customer service, innovation, risk taking, and connections to industry & society. Senior leaders can use the mindset to build an organisational culture that is fit-for-purpose, delivers excellent performance and secures long-term sustainability.