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An entrepreneurial way of engaging student entrepreneurs at business school during pandemic

Yogesh Brahmankar (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune,Symbiosis International (Deemed University),, Pune, India)
Madhura Bedarkar (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune,Symbiosis International (Deemed University),, Pune, India)
Mahima Mishra (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune,Symbiosis International (Deemed University),, Pune, India)

International Journal of Innovation Science

ISSN: 1757-2223

Article publication date: 12 August 2021

Issue publication date: 5 September 2022

232

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges faced by the higher educational institutes in imparting entrepreneurial education during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the institutional response to handle the difficulties posed by COVID-19 through innovative educational initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the challenges faced, data was collected from entrepreneurship students and entrepreneurship educators through focus group discussions. The study followed Kitzinger (1995) as data was analyzed in its entirety as a group and then individually. Groups and individuals were the focus of the analysis. The study applies the Kepner Trego problem analysis technique (KPTA) as the problem-solving technique adopted by the institute and SAP-LAP (situation, actor, process, learning, action, performance) to discuss the findings of the study.

Findings

The study found that to engage, encourage and enable students to study on their start-up/business ideas; it is important to facilitate peer interactions, internships in start-ups and meaningful engagement with alumni entrepreneurs. Some proactive interventions are also expected from institutes to energize the student community with positivity. It is also important to nurture the emotional well-being of budding entrepreneurs.

Research limitations/implications

The case study narrates the innovative and agile problem-solving approach of the business school during the pandemic. KPTA focuses more on appreciative dialogue and also helps to replicate the best from other situations to the problem areas. SAP-LAP method also helps practitioners to initiate the right new actions with targeted performance.

Practical implications

As a greater number of academic institutions impart entrepreneurship education today, the findings of the study would be relevant to the stakeholders, including students, educators and institutes.

Social implications

The study underpins the importance of the emotional well-being of entrepreneurs/student entrepreneurs and an innovative approach to keep the student moral high during such a challenging situation.

Originality/value

It is an ongoing exercise at a business school where the challenges were identified, analyzed and solutions were implemented using a structured methodology such as focused group discussions, KPTA and SAPLAP. The innovative initiatives not only engaged the student well but also were able to ensure their emotional well-being.

Keywords

Citation

Brahmankar, Y., Bedarkar, M. and Mishra, M. (2022), "An entrepreneurial way of engaging student entrepreneurs at business school during pandemic", International Journal of Innovation Science, Vol. 14 No. 3/4, pp. 428-444. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-11-2020-0264

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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