VIRTUAL WEB LAB FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS

The demand for entrepreneurship programmes, courses and activities in higher education is increasing globally (Volkmann et al., 2009). Typically, skill-building courses in entrepreneurship education entail creativity, new venture creation, business idea development and opportunity recognition, as well as soft skills like negotiation or presentation competences (Solomon et al., 2002). Moreover, in terms of methods, there is a need for more interactive, interdisciplinary and proactive learning approaches; using information technology as a valuable enabler for developing this forums (Volkmann et al., 2009).
In this context, Mondragon University has developed a Virtual Web Lab, called TEKin, which promotes the use of learning technologies to enhance enterprise and entrepreneurship education; developing Entrepreneurial skills and facilitating the spin-off success among all the universities’ collective. This paper describes the formal processes and procedures underpinning TEKin, the issues around material development and the community members’ experiences. Furthermore, TEKin works as a community of practice with regular events and online support for the sharing of materials and experience. Materials developed or/and gathered are available to all Mondragon Universities collective to download, adapt and use for educational or research purpose.
TEKin demonstrates how entrepreneurship and enterprise educators can share resources with the students, providing useful tools and materials for going through the whole academic entrepreneurship process.