Entrepreneurship in education
Entrepreneurship is present in studies as study contents but also as learning methods that promote the students’ knowledge, skill and attitudinal competences in entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial spirit refers to openness to new possibilities, creativity in problem solving and willingness to take responsibility. Entrepreneurial spirit is developed in all Degree Programmes by pedagogical practices supporting creativity, innovativeness, and the students’ capacity for risk-taking and vision-building.
For developing entrepreneurship knowledge and skills, different Programmes have different solutions. However, all the students of SeAMK complete the common 5-credit module of Business and Entrepreneurship, Basics of Entrepreneurship 3 credits and 2 credits are are completed during the Innovation Week, targeted at first-year students. Students learn Design Thinking in multidisciplinary working life projects. Also wider pedagogical solutions and learning environments are offered in the Schools, e.g. virtual enterprise activities, Project Workshop, project learning based on needs of working life and, available to all SeAMK students, the SeAMKPro learning environment.
For the students considering or planning a career as an entrepreneur, in addition to the pedagogic methods and courses of their own degree programmes, multidisciplinary courses such From an Idea to a Business (2-10 ECTS) and a special implementation of the course Business and Entrepreneurship (3 ECTS) are offered. SeAMK also has and active pre-incubator Y-Zone Business HUB in which a student interested in starting or buying a business and develop his or her business idea and entrepreneurship competence. Students from all Degree programmes are eligible for participation. The development of knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to entrepreneurship is monitored in SeAMK with the Entre Intentio measures. This is a tool used to measure the development of students’ interest in, consideration for, competence in and intention to engage in entrepreneurship from the time they begin their studies until they graduate.
The Y-Zone Business HUB managers/contact persons at the Faculties:
School of Business and Culture: Margit Mannila (Coordinator for Y-Zone Business Hub)
School of Food and Agriculture: Ilkka Latomäki
School of Technology: Heikki Heiskanen
School of Health Care and Social Welfare: Piia Haapala
SeAMK Cooperative
During the autumn of 2020, an educational cooperative was established at Seinäjoki University of Applied sciences (SeAMK) for degree students and staff.
At SeAMK Cooperative, students of degree programs and staff have the opportunity to try entrepreneurship lightly, under the SeAMK cooperative’s Business ID, and develop their business idea together with a creative, and inspiring members. A student can be a member of the SeAMK Cooperative while studying at SeAMK.
For example, a member of SeAMK Cooperative can have the opportunity to sell their products, know-how and invoice through the SeAMK Cooperative. You get a work certificate and possibly study credits from the work done at the SeAMK Cooperative. You will learn about the administrative side of entrepreneurship and board work. SeAMK Cooperative’s home base is at Y-zone located in Frami F.
Contact information: Elina Ojala, telephone +358408300376
