Aims

The module will develop students’ understanding of entrepreneurship in an international context through considering a range of key issues and topics. The module adopts a critical and broad-ranging social science approach to the subject and aims to provide students with the ability to analyse entrepreneurship from an international perspective within the context of a wide range of management, organisation studies and social science debates. The module focuses on both the conceptual aspects of international entrepreneurship as well as some practical elements in order to equip the student with a valid grounding of both theory and practice.

The overall aim of this module will be to educate students on the theoretical and practical aspects of developing and growing a small business internationally, advance cross-national comparisons of entrepreneurial activity and consider entrepreneurship as a solution to global social problems. Students will develop insights, tools, concepts, and skills necessary to understand the challenges and opportunities of international entrepreneurship.

Outline Of Syllabus

Syllabus to include topics such as:
•       International evidence on Entrepreneurship and Small Business
•       A macro examination of enterprising nations and impact of cultures
•       Small Firm Internationalisation strategies: stages theory, network perspective and born global phenomenon
•       Research on IE: findings from GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor)
•       (Social) Entrepreneurship as a solution to global issues and challenges

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module utilises student-centred approach to learning. Students will go through lecture-based learning and group discussions in class.
Furthermore, the module will apply different activities (e.g., gaming and improvisation) following the action-based approach on teaching entrepreneurship.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Part One

Individual Essay: Choose ONE of the discussion statements and conduct a critical evaluation essay in response to that statement that critically discusses the academic research in the field and bring in relevant case study examples.

Mindful of both practical and theoretical learning outcomes of this module, students are required to develop their understanding of international entrepreneurship from both perspectives. The literature review will be developed to demonstrate the students understanding of the core themes and issues in IE and their academic ability to focus on a particular area. The chosen area will be facilitated by the lecture content, which will focus on relevant IE topics, employing research evidence from a number of international contexts. By integrating the literature review with relevant case study examples, this will focus student’s understanding of the practical relevance of IE and enable them to employ a degree of secondary research analysis. The nature of this activity will develop practical entrepreneurial skills and perspectives of creative problem solving, diagnostic skills and written communication, all of which are needed to grow a small business internationally.


Part Two

Group Report: Students will construct a report presenting the key components of their international social venture and include proof of primary and secondary research as part of the de-risking process.

In semester two, students will work in groups on projects around an entrepreneurial solution to a global issue. Emphasis is placed upon the development of business skills, awareness of new venture start-up in a global context and social problems. In teams, students will endeavour to originate and plan an enterprise related to a particular global problem or challenge, involving the development of systems and procedures for operating the enterprise. They will be expected to develop a business idea and research its potential within a specific international context (community, region, country). Lectures will present conceptual debates as well as the tools necessary for start-up activities and case study examples that can stimulate ideation.