From the Classroom to the Library: The Experience of Entrepreneurship and Teaching Innovation in the Area of Library and Information Science in Spain

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of project-based learning to foster an enterprising, innovative attitude among students enrolled at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in the context of the School of Documentation Sciences from the 2013–2014 academic year to the present.

This experiment is based on the experiential intersection of two domains: firstly, innovation and entrepreneurship, in order to drive both entrepreneurship for self-employment and also intrapreneurship in libraries or documentation institutions; secondly, the application of project management methods in library and information science (LIS), using the teaching technique known as project-based learning (PBL).

Over this period of four academic years, 159 students have taken part and have created 42 projects. A trend is seen in the development of intrapreneurship projects (i.e., projects contextualized within preexisting organizations are 79% of total).

The progression of this experiment in the fostering of entrepreneurship and innovation in LIS in Spain has been based on a dynamic in which the application of theoretical bases to a real, practical context has enabled a better exploitation and understanding of the of the contents taught; developing projects has given LIS students experience that makes them more employable.

Citation

Arquero-Avilés, R., Marco-Cuenca, G. and Siso-Calvo, B. (2019), "From the Classroom to the Library: The Experience of Entrepreneurship and Teaching Innovation in the Area of Library and Information Science in Spain", Supporting Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Vol. 40), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 183-201. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0732-067120190000040002