FoodfindsAsia.com | How can the educational system help support and develop entrepreneurship? | Something amazing is happening in the educational system of the world today. Academic programs are now starting to adapt to the modern business framework by taking on a more entrepreneurial approach to education.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says that alternative education minimizes student-drop-out rate as it creates specialized classrooms for who are looking for education beyond the conventional curriculum.
The Dilemma
The traditional school system, while satisfactory at best, is training students to become part of the workforce.
Is this bad?No, not at all. However, at the rate things are going, most traditional school systems are graduating students who are ill-prepared for the challenges of the 21st-century workplace and economy. In this digital age, an entrepreneurial mindset is needed to meet the demands and face the challenges of the modern workplace.
The Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship, contrary to popular notion, is open to everybody. It is not just for a privileged few.
The entrepreneur’s job is to help come up with solutions to the problems of the world. It takes a lot of creativity and critical problem-solving skills to deal with the issues today. One has to adapt to the fast-paced society we live in and adopt different approaches to survive.
The Alternatives
There have been some good alternatives to the traditional classroom education we grew up with.There arehomeschooling programsthat have been in existence for decades, but only grew in popularity over the past two decades.
Then there is online education that allows anyone to get a degree in the comfort of their own home and at their convenience. Correspondence courses also give people the opportunity to get an education (or an additional degree) at their own time and pace.
On top of these, here are a few more options to help build and establish a student’s entrepreneurial know-how:
1. CAPS
CAPS is an outstanding educational program that combines theory and application. It connects the conventional classroom education with practical skills, giving students the chance to explore everything from law to healthcare.
2. The Co-op Model
This model allows students to alternatively spend time between school and work. Co-ops give students the chance to diversify their time in school with internships, making them more well-rounded students as they gain both intellectual and practical knowledge in the process.
3. The Thiel Fellowship
This is a rather unique yet fruitful opportunity for students, especially for those looking to be entrepreneurs.
Peter Thiel, co-founder of several reputable companies, like Paypal, and an early investor in Facebook, gives a select number of students $100,000 to “stop” school for two years and help build and establish companies of the future.
If you have big ideas that could provide breakthroughs for humankind, consider being a Thiel fellow.
4. UnCollege
UnCollege has a different approach to education. Its founder, Dale Stephens, believes that to boost learning and spark entrepreneurialism in students, a gap year of societal and cultural exposure is necessary.
During their program, students are encouraged to go abroad and immerse themselves in an entirely different culture. They go back to have themselves mentored in San Francisco and spend the rest of the term as interns working on projects.This gives students the chance to grow as they discover new things about other cultures and themselves.
5. Minerva
Minervais a non-traditional educational institution that mixes classroom learning, experiential learning opportunities, traveling, seminars, and career support. Its goal is to produce students who are equipped to take on 21st-century jobs and become global leaders and innovators. There are a lot of other ways now to receive education other than the conventional set-up. What’s good about these alternatives is it produces critical thinkers and problem-solvers that will help revitalize the world economy.
