![\"Alecia](\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/erdp\/files\/2015\/08\/alicia-dunn.jpg\")
<\/a>My role is to work with students and staff within the Faculty of Medical Sciences to support new and existing curricular and co-curricular interventions that enhance students\u2019 enterprise skills and entrepreneurial learning.<\/p>\nThe words \u2018enterprise\u2019 and \u2018entrepreneurship\u2019 have a plethora of connotations. Without a contextual basis this can be very off-putting. I am keen to establish what we mean by \u2018enterprise\u2019, and in particular, why it is important to medical sciences.<\/p>\n
Our support works along an enterprise spectrum; enterprise skills<\/em> (e.g. soft skills), leading to entrepreneurial learning<\/em> (commercial and business awareness within the context of the curriculum) and entrepreneurship <\/em>(starting an actual business) \u2013 all of which can be applied to learning contexts. Enterprise skills<\/em> development activities include the prospective Enterprise Skills for Psychologist session under development for 2016 stage 1 psychology students. Examples of interventions related to entrepreneurial learning<\/em> include the Dental Enterprise Workshops for 4th year dentistry students, looking at the underpinnings of running a practice, and supporting the Business for the Bioscientist module within biomedical sciences. Entrepreneurship<\/em> takes the form of working with students and graduates interested in starting a business, such as Stuart Maitland, co-founder of the medical education platform, Mediwikis<\/u><\/a>, and recent winner of the prestigious Santander Universities Enterprise Awards<\/u><\/a> and \u00a320,000 cash prize.<\/p>\n For the life sciences, innovation and problem-solving are imperative. Students, researchers and practitioners come across unique everyday problems \u2013 and are in fact the best placed to solve them. However, they often don\u2019t perceive themselves as \u2018problem-solvers\u2019 or \u2018enterprising\u2019, and our interest lies in developing opportunities for students to re-think their role as solvers and innovators within the context of their learning. The QAA report (2012) on enterprise and entrepreneurship education within HE highlights the capacity for enterprise to simultaneously enhance contextual learning and provide transdisciplinary knowledge and skills, applicable for a jobs market that is increasingly demanding \u2018portfolio careers\u2019 and wider knowledge of business demands. This is especially apparent in the health services, where more often, successful delivery is based on a premise of innovative practices, adaptability and cost-effectiveness. My role is to ultimately create and increase opportunities where students can develop the preparedness they require to navigate meaningful careers in a changing world.<\/p>\n I am organising a lunch for academics who are interested in developing areas of the curriculum where enterprise\/entrepreneurial learning would enhance students\u2019 educational experience, and would welcome opportunity to discuss this further.<\/p>\n Alecia Dunn, Entrepreneurial Development Officer, Entrepreneurial Development Unit (EDU), Careers Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My role is to work with students and staff within the Faculty of Medical Sciences to support new and existing curricular and co-curricular interventions that enhance students\u2019 enterprise skills and entrepreneurial learning. The words \u2018enterprise\u2019 and \u2018entrepreneurship\u2019 have a … Continue reading