Enhancing student competence through novel student enterprise concept

Abstract

© 2017 TEMPUS Publications. The purpose of this paper is to explore how students, organized in the proposed form of Student Enterprise, can most efficiently enhance their operating knowledge and competence about sustainability during their free-choice learning time. The Student Enterprise concept differs from other kinds of practical learning at other universities. It represents a student organization whose activities are not a standard part of any curriculum, in which students efficiently acquire various action competences during their free-choice learning time. This concept was first theoretically designed based on the previous experience in teaching and extensive literature review. Students-volunteers were then organized in specialized teams within the Student Enterprise, with the common goal to design and manufacture one novel product each academic year. Total number of student that have participated in Student Enterprise in academic years 2012/13 to 2015/16 was more than 170. Acquiring of knowledge and skills during free-choice learning time proved far more efficient than the conventional studying during semesters. The findings suggest that the Student Enterprise concept can be implemented within different study programs. Students are motivated to participate in activities in various Student Enterprise teams. Also, the coached team environment allowed students to acquire operative knowledge about sustainability principles even if they had no previous experience with sustainability.