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The differences between post-graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship courses

Although the course content may look similar for both the post-graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship courses, there are significant differences in the teaching approach, the teaching objectives, and in the way that these courses are assessed.  In particular, some major differences are identified in the following table:

Aspect Postgraduate Undergraduate

Assumptions regarding the students
  • Students have prior business experience
  • Several students in a class may wish to start their own business
  • Students may have their own business or manage a professional practice
  • If they work in a medium size or large business, students are likely to engage in corporate venturing activities
  • Students are generally full-time, but may work part-time in lower-level positions
  • Only a small percentage of students wish to create their own businesses
  • Most businesses created by undergraduates are likely to be related to lifestyle or hobbies

Course objectives
  • Prepare students for a second career, by further developing the skills they have already learned in prior education and in their experience
  • Provide a framework for identifying and screening business opportunities
  • Develop the skills needed to transform ideas into business
  • Develop the skills to lead a new venture and assemble an effective new venture team
  • Develop an awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship
  • Give students an insight into the world of small business
  • Help students to recognise their potential as entrepreneurs
  • Provide a framework for identifying and screening business opportunities
  • Give students practice in project planning,  implementation and teamwork
  • Develop students' networking skills

Teaching approaches
  • Students interview entrepreneurs
  • Address students' personal business interests
  • Focus on the reality/feasibility of the plans developed
  • Emphasise presentation skills
  • Different cases and materials used to support the content
  • Small classes
  • Focus on topics selected by the lecturer
  • Emphasis on teamwork
  • Focus on the plans as models for future plans
  • Access to presentations by entrepreneurs through workshops organised by the School of Management
  • Large classes

Assessment
  • All individual assessment
  • No written examination
  • Combination of individual assessment and team assessment
  • Written examination

 

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