An entrepreneurial mindset (EM) encompasses attitudes, habits, and behaviors that shape a unique approach to problem-solving, innovation, and value creation.
For engineering students, the entrepreneurial mindset amplifies the technical skills they learn, equipping them to:
Let's unpack "mindset" further.
Doug Melton discusses how this concept is relevant to us as educators, and how we can design educational interventions to impact students.
As we explore habit of mind and thinking patterns, think about how motivations, attitudes, and skills influence entrepreneurial outcomes.
The entrepreneurial mindset consists of three key elements: Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value—the 3Cs.
A thorough understanding of the 3Cs helps engineering students question, adapt, and make positive change—in classes, across campus, within communities, and around the world. This emergent understanding came from years of work with KEEN faculty, students, and industry.
Today’s solutions are often obsolete tomorrow. Students must be empowered to investigate a rapidly changing world with an insatiable curiosity. Educators can help students understand the broader world and look toward the future by exploring multiple perspectives.
Discoveries alone are not enough. Students must habitually pursue knowledge, integrating it with their own discoveries to reveal innovative solutions, and placing old ideas in new contexts. Faculty can help students connect information to gain insight, manage risk, and reveal innovative solutions.
Innovative solutions are most meaningful when they create value for others. Students must be champions of value creation and have a positive impact through their work. Educators can help students seek opportunities, understand stakeholders, and be champions of value creation in diverse contexts.
The KEEN Framework is a downloadable guide that incorporates the 3Cs along with mindset outcomes. Use the Framework to create educational materials and teaching concepts to equip students with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Seven-year-old Dale doesn't have the use of his legs and left arm. He's not able to play outside, so video games are his outlet. Except it's very difficult - and disheartening - for him to play games that require both hands.
Older brother Brad Eley (University of Dayton '12) was determined to find a solution. He devoted his capstone project to developing a handicapped-accessible video game controller that would also help Dale regain movement in his arm.
Brad wasn't only using technical skills to design a solution. He was using an entrepreneurial mindset to ensure that his design was what his brother needed.
You don't have to redo your classes to fit in the entrepreneurial mindset. Instead, EM fits into your existing courses.
Community members upload activities complete with syllabi, presentations, rubrics, and other materials for you to take and adapt. Start small with a 5-minute activity or explore a semester-long project.
The entrepreneurial mindset allows institutions to be faithful to their original charter while preparing graduates to excel.
Under an entrepreneurial engineering approach, students can co-create with faculty members. Faculty in turn re-imagine courses, labs, and activities – and find greater fulfillment in the process. Read stories of institutional change.
Companies want engineering graduates to be equipped with a broad set of skills - and not just technical acumen.
Teaching the entrepreneurial mindset will help students work better within teams, communicate more effectively, listen to stakeholders, ask the right questions, and understand the needs of others. Learn more from industry experts [YouTube] as to why entrepreneurially minded learning helps students adapt and engage in a changing world of work.
As an academic faculty member, pursuing scholarship around entrepreneurial mindset can bring significant benefits to your career and institution.
This type of research can provide valuable insights into how students can develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed in entrepreneurial endeavors, in any context. Your scholarship will contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this area. Learn more about EM scholarship.