More entrepreneurs are needed
Academic entrepreneurship in focus:
Universities should produce more entrepreneurs
There is only a small number of academic entrepreneurs
because pedagogical methods and contents do not support
their development
Educational philosophy effects the process

Contents and methods vary based on philosophy
What should the philosophy be 
in order to increase the number 
of academic entrepreneurs?
Functionalistic paradigm:
Realism
Interpretive paradigm:
Pragmatism
World of facts
Researcher unveils
Teacher teaches the facts to students
Ever-changing world
Researcher interprets the current situation
Students are guided to learn the process of discovery
Realism  -  Pragmatism
Teach global
facts
Gather situational facts
and act on them
Theory-based
learning environments
Action-oriented learning
environments
Teach knowledge about
the world
Learn how to accomplish
authentic tasks
Teachers teaches
Mentor guides
Test: Student gives
back the same facts
Test: Student is able to
succeed in practical situation
UAS mission is practical (“based on requirements of the working life, co-operation and applied research to support the expectations of working life”) -> pragmatism

Pragmatism gives students 
tools  to cope in ever-changing 
situations  that an entrepreneur 
is likely to encounter!
Pragmatism: "the doctrine that reality possesses practical character”
(Dewey 1931, 31)
Thinking and doing are different sides of same coin, 
totally intertwined:

The world is a set of practical actions 
that are born from thinking
Strong emphasis on reflective dialogue
The "truth" are the set of actions taken
- it is not relevant/true, if no-one acts on it.

“Truth” is situational and personal:
what do you act in a certain situation 

Interpretation of the truth must be according 
to known facts (known for the interpreter)

Dialogue creates new truths
Focuses on constant learning,
the basis of life-long learning -ideology
"Real educative process is created by development and growth that takes place in intelligent inquiries of the environment"
Seltzer-Kelly 2008, 293-294
Pragmatic teacher?
Master the subject "well-enough"
Focus on the individual growth
of each student
Interactive intervention to contemporary problems 
with and by the students 

Put student into authentic learning situations
Strong pedagogical skills:
"knowledge of the principles upon which all methods are based"
McLellan and Dewey 1908, 10
Pragmatic student?
Student decides if she
wants to learn. Always!
Personal experience on
the situations
Create her own
interpretation of
the situation
Personal action
after reflective
review
Learning-by-Developing
Pragmatic educational approach in 
Laurea University of applied sciences
Five basic principles:
Authentic
Partnership
Experiencing
Creativity
Investigation
Laurea Business Ventures (LBV)
Bachelor-programme in entrepreneurship and business development
Estabished in 2008
Annual take-in of 70 students 
+ transfer students
Competence-based curriculum defines 
learning objectives
All learning takes place in authentic 
development projects
No lectures, no exams, no teaching modules
Evaluation based on skills shown in projects
Evaluation in co-operation between customer, teacher and student
Theoretical knowledge presented as a part of the project
Students:
+ Learning, not teaching
+ Concrete actions
+ A lot of responsibility
+ Personal mentoring
- Lectures are wanted
- A lot of responsibility
Partners
+ Immediate projects
+ Well-motivated students
+ Entrepreneurial attitude
+ Good results
- Some projects are hard to staff
- Some skill-gaps
Staff
+ Focus on a small number of students
+ Evaluation based on authentic projects
+ Constant personal learning
+ Variance at work
- Constantly working in open situations
- More difficult to plan the use of time
Innovation
Risk-taking
Proactiveness
Networking
Results?
Dual model has created a laboratory
Traditional universities:

primarily academic research and scientific and artistic education (Finnish Law, act 1997/645, §4). 

Educational goals of the universities are research-based, i.e. their task is to do research and educate students with the latest information research has revealed.
Universities of Applied Sciences

provide higher professional education based on the requirements of the working life and its development” (Finnish Law, act 2003/351, §4) 

Close co-operation with regional economy and organizations and applied research on subjects that support the expectations of working life (Finnish Law, act 2003/351, §4).
Two paradigms of social science
Scientific process evolves constantly as new data is discovered  

World is non-linear complex system that has infinite number of variables ->  abductive reasoning

Practical experiments

Interpretation of goals and advantages is in focal point - > human process

goal is to improve life, not to reveal universal facts

Natural world exist despite our interpretation, but what we do 
with it is our decision of the multitude of potential actions,
Two examples:

1) Semmelweis
2) AIDS
Interesting development:
Students' role changes also in research!
Funding applications
Program management
Research process
Writing
Learn the methods very thoroughly
It all depends on motivation!
If pragmatism fits for education for entrepreneurship, does it fit:
the other areas of UASs?
Other subjects of applied science, like teacher training, engineering, physician training regardless of status of the university?
Final questions
In the end it is a question of the belief of the individual decision maker

	Do you think that social world is factual and the code is possible to unravel, or

	Do you think that social world is infinitely complex and importance lies in actions?
Contact:
Vesa Taatila
vesa.taatila@laurea.fi
+358-400-853464