Enterprise Education
US v UK
Julie Logan
Director of Simfonec
Visiting Professor University of Illinois
UK versus USA
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Many similarities, some differences
Simfonec
International collaborations
Entrepreneurship boot camp that we
hold Europe
Pre 1998 UK
• Pockets of excellence in enterprise education
• Warwick, Durham, Bristol
• Taught on MBA programmes as an elective but usually
more about the psychology of the entrepreneur
• Graduate Enterprise, Firm Start, Business Growth
• In 1980’s graduate programmes but mainly seen as an
economic development issue
• Decreasing unemployment entrepreneurship out of
fashion
• 1998 Government see the need for Innovation
UK versus USA
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Government funded
Changing attitudes
Building awareness
Broader education,
being open to
opportunities, being
more entrepreneurial
wherever you work
• Foundations and
Alumni
• The American Dream
• Entrepreneurship
acceptable career
path, okay to fail
• Teaching how to
UK versus USA
• Not such a culture of
entrepreneurship
around the
Universities
• Staff as well as
students
• More of an
International focus
• Strong
entrepreneurial
culture around the
universities
• Student focus
• Large market so no
need to look overseas
UK versus USA
• Shortage of funding especially
commercial funding so
government funds
• Funding available for good
ideas
• Less experienced technology
transfer offices
• Technology transfer probably
15 in advance
• But in many ways we learn
from US, take the best and
modify to fit our needs
UK versus USA
• Enterprise teaching centres often cover more than one university
• For example Cass Business School
Royal Veterinary College, Kings College London, Queen Mary
College, City University and London School of Tropical Hygiene
• Collaborations very common and provide major benefits including
International partnerships
International Boot camp
• Simfonec, Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship, Ges
Entrepreneurs Portugal, Helsinki school of creative
Entrepreneurship and Gea College of Entrepreneurship
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A weekend of practice of pitching together with workshops
Very interactive and very practical
Participants must have a business idea
Students pitch are filmed receive feedback and work to improve
pitches
• Academic staff come as well
Benefits
• New network last long after the workshop
• Results in investment funding or new sales
opportunities
• Provides new perspective on International
markets
• Network very useful when you wish to expand
into new European market
• Learn from each other and learn what is
acceptable in other cultures i.e. Swedes very
modest
Benefits
• After weekend participants very confident
• Socialising - learning from each other but
also breaking down barriers
• Peer review
• Build relationships between Universities
• Generates new International projects