Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the modern social and economic reality of entrepreneurship and develop relevant creativity, communication, and leadership skills. It is the basis for building the ability to identify business opportunities in everyday life, focus on social needs, and create value based on their knowledge and their creative and critical ability.

Emphasis is given to the dynamic concepts of entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, to the analysis of problematic situations and the synthesis of solutions rather than the narrow scope of business management. A critical element of the approach adopted is the comprehension of entrepreneurship and innovation as collective, interactive socio-economic processes. Starting from the analysis of modern reality, the capability to search for and construct radical, realistic solutions to problems is developed.

Indicative Module Content

The course focuses on issues related to:

• entrepreneurship and business,
• analysis of social needs and trends,
• exploration of business opportunities: the need, the problem, the solution, the creation of value
• methods of creative thinking
• The role of innovation in the creation of the business venture
• Intangible industrial property
• resource collection
• development of business ideas,
• development of business partnerships
• business models.

Students learn by doing, applying the methods in the process from business conceptualization to evaluation, pivot and pitching to potential partners or/and investors.

During the course, in addition to lectures:

• case studies are used which are the subject of presentation and discussion during the lectures
• students visit companies related to their subjects and interests,
• lectures are given by entrepreneurs,
• meetings are organized with mentors from the local business community

Students develop business plans in groups of 4-7 members, with the advisory guidance and support of the support team or members of the business community.

Course lectures and other activities are supported by workshops, where each team discusses its work and seeks solutions to any problems it faces or specialized knowledge about specific aspects of its work.