Any idea that creates new value faces the challenge of refinement, alignment, execution, and finally capturing the intended value. A novel idea of an institution to addresses the educational needs of a fast growing entrepreneurial community is no exception.
The significance of encouraging entrepreneurs to emerge and succeed has occupied the wise minds of business experts, policymakers, society leaders, and mentors active in the community of entrepreneurship, such realisations however have not translated into any real investment of time, money and attention from their side on taking the idea of dedicated entrepreneurship education institution to a logical end. Ironically, the need for serious and integrated entrepreneurship education has been often downplayed by the protagonists of the entrepreneurial community (often by entrepreneurs themselves) instead of their asking,
” What kind of education is necessary and appropriate for entrepreneurs?”
It is hard to argue the truth that the areas of greater challenge (as in the case of entrepreneurship) need heightened awareness. The process of education collaborates with the learner to create just such an awareness. Hence, for an institution focused on entrepreneurship, the real challenge is to demonstrate the true value of entrepreneurial education by nurturing young minds to into creating and actualising successful and sustainable ventures. This model of education can be termed ‘Horizontal Learning”
Prospective young entrepreneurs face a core dilemma. They want to grow their ideas, be innovative, be their own boss, taste the fruit of success and feel worthy; but they are also pulled away by the need for a secured job or career offered in someone else’s established organization. The willingness to invest in trendy programs is all too common among youth, but investing on something that offers intrinsic value of the sustainable kind to their own venture, their propensity might be low. For example, people commonly do not see the value of clean air or water for their long term health. With a short-term mindset, aspiring entrepreneurs may perceive pursuing even relevant education as a time away from what they need to be doing. A focused educational institution for entrepreneurs hence should take on the challenge of reviving the kind of wise learning into which entrepreneurs do not hesitate investing because they would know that they benefit disproportionately more from such a choice and the learning does not take them away from their path.
On the contrary, they learn the art of operationalising the concepts and frameworks they learn. However uphill a task the endeavour of communicating and imparting wise education to young entrepreneurial minds may be, a real institution of entrepreneurship should be committed to creating the enlightenment and real breakthrough in their hearts. The challenge today is not the absence, dearth or remoteness of a market for serious entrepreneurship education, but it essentially is of effective communication. An entrepreneurship educational institution should not be in the number game, rather should focus on small groups of young entrepreneurs in order to ensure customised attention on them.