University of Valencia: The Business Culture Chair and Entrepreneurship Training for University Lecturers

Abstract

The main hub for EE at the University of Valencia (UV) is the externally settled Business Culture Chair (BCC) which is part of the University-Business Foundation ADEIT. Although ADEIT and the BCC do not currently provide curricular offers in EE, it has a remarkable influence on the teaching style across the whole university. The main activity is an annual one-week Valencian Professors Summer School (VPSS) based on the train-the-trainer principle. The concept aims to sensitize and teach entrepreneurship to the universities’ lecturers. The focus is on how to discover and promote the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset among their students. Due to the interdisciplinary participants the concept can be spread out and implemented in the whole university. The main lesson learned is how to establish a teaching style that promotes entrepreneurship in the classroom and thus inspires participants instead of teaching actual business knowledge. Evaluation is provided through the business idea competition MOTIVEM where student teams, which are mentored by former VPSS participants, develop their own business ideas. To reinforce the impact of the VPSS, lecturers from different Spanish and international universities are encouraged to participate in order to implement the VPSS idea in their own university environment.

References

Research for this case was conducted by Dr. Daniel Bohlmann, Research Assistant at the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development/University of Wuppertal, on behalf of the study for supporting the entrepreneurial potential of higher education (sepHE). Sources and references used include desk research plus:

1.1 Interviews

Teresa Picher, Francisco Sánchez, Emilia Matallana, VPSS participants, UV, 1 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 9.30–11.00

Javier Garín, Teresa Puchades, Francisco J. Quiles, Pedro Alonso, mentoring programme coordinator and mentors, 1 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 11.00–13.00

Antonio Aracil, Germán Ferreiro, Isabel González, Isabel Martínez, ADEIT staff, 1 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 16.00–18.00

Vicente Ruiz, general director of BCC, 2 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 9.00–11.00

Sergio Pardo, Ascensión Olcina, Ivan Ferrer, MOTIVEM Award and “Who can be an Entrepreneur?” participating students, 2 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 11.00–13.00

María Vicenta Mestre, vice-principal for teaching staff and academic planning, 2 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 17.00–18.00

Lorena Jericó, Alejandro Creus, BCC Alumni, 3 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 9.00–11.00

Pilar Campins Falcó, vice-principal for research and science policy, 3 Dec 2014, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 11.30–13.00

José Manuel Comeche, Victoria Gómez, Vicente Francés, academic council VPSS and subdirector ADEIT, 3 Dec 2014, ADEIT, 13.00–15.00

1.2 Websites

ADEIT (2012) Homepage ADEIT. http://www.adeituv.es/. Accessed 4 Feb 2015

ADEIT (2015) Homepage BCC. http://www.adeituv.es/catedras-de-empresa/catedra-de-cultura-empresarial/presentacion/. Accessed 4 Feb 2015

ADEIT UV (2015) Homepage board of trustees ADEIT. http://www.adeituv.es/en/quienes-somos/patronato/. Accessed 8 Feb 2015

ADEIT UV (2015) Homepage extracurricular activities by BCC. http://www.adeituv.es/catedras-de-empresa/catedra-de-cultura-empresarial/actividades/. Accessed 3 Feb 2015

ADEIT UV (2015) Who can be an Entrepreneur. http://www.adeituv.es/en/emprendedores/curs-qui-pot-ser-empresari/presentacion/. Accessed 3 Feb 2015

ADEIT UV (2015) Homepage mentoring programme. http://www.adeituv.es/en/emprendedores/mentores-para-emprendedores-universitarios/mentores/. Accessed 3 Feb 2015

ADEIT UV (2015) Homepage VPSS. http://www.adeituv.es/en/emprendedores/escuela-de-verano-para-profesores-motivadores-del-espiritu-emprendedor/presentacion/. Accessed 2 Feb 2015

University of Valencia (2015) Homepage UV. http://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/university-valencia-1285845048380.html. Accessed 3 Feb 2015

University of Valencia (2015) Homepage mission statement UV. http://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/university/us/mission-view-values/mission-1285924490521.html. Accessed 3 Feb 2015

University of Valencia (2015) Business Management Degree. http://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/undergraduate-studies/undergraduate-studies-/degree-programmes-offered/ade-degree-business-administration-management-1285846094474/Titulacio.html?id=1285847455548&plantilla=UV/Page/TPGDetaill&p2=2. Accessed 9 Feb 2015

University of Valencia (2015) Homepage curricular offers within graduate studies. http://www.uv.es/uvweb/departamento-direccion-empresas/en/recursos/recursos-informacion-1285857453715.html. Accessed 14 Feb 2015

University of Valencia (2015) Postgraduate Courses. http://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/postgraduate-courses/official-master-s-degrees/master-1285848941532/Titulacio.html?id=1285855670782. Accessed 2 Feb 2015