Entrepreneurships
An entrepreneurship experience is a chance for students to take a crack at running their own businesses. Often run through school-supported incubators or accelerators, entrepreneurship connects students with resources, space, mentorship and/or funding to launch their own startups or tackle real-world problems for academic credit.
Things to Consider
Workforce Management
- This emerging WIL type involves having an employer mentor a student as they pursue an entrepreneurial project. The level of commitment and involvement is flexible and is a great option for employers with limited time.
- This WIL placement can also involve placing a student at a start-up, which requires a more involved approach and is sometimes called an intrapreuneurship.
Innovation
- Universities can partner with a range of employers in the community, from small businesses and community organizations. These new collaborations can result in innovative ideas and the co-design of WIL placements tailored to community needs.
- Many employers shared how surprised they were by the passion, motivation, and knowledge of WIL students. Create supportive environments where students feel empowered and comfortable to share new ideas and as well as the resources to develop creative solutions.
Corporate Social Responsibility
- As emerging WIL models are incredibly flexible and can be tailored to specifics, employers can use this as an opportunity to create focused placements for diverse cohorts of students based on their capabilities and needs. This can include those from a vulnerable population.
We Need Your Help!
We haven't heard from stakeholders in your industry about the benefits of work-integrated learning. Please share your thoughts, expectations and experiences related to the benefits of work-integrated learning by emailing the BHER team.