THE ROLE OF STUDENTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUBS AND EXPERIENCES IN ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract: This paper focuses on the role of student entrepreneurship clubs
and societies. It explores their impact on student learning in order to
understand the extent to which such activities simulate entrepreneurial
learning. The paper reports three studies conducted from 2006- 2007,
which explored three different forms of clubs; entrepreneurship clubs;
SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) teams; and, investment clubs. Data
from ten unstructured interviews, a series of telephone interviews and an
e-mail postcard are reported. The results show that students’ motivations
for engaging in clubs vary and that they differ between different types of
clubs. In terms of entrepreneurial learning students’ engagement in clubs
and societies provides enhanced opportunities for ‘learn by doing’ through
action and experience. The data show that increased action leads to
reflective practice and that social learning is important. The paper
highlights the capacity of entrepreneurship education to simulate
entrepreneurial learning, illustrating the value of entrepreneurship clubs
and societies and explaining why students engage in them.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Learning, Clubs, Societies, Entrepreneurship
Education
In a recent study Pittaway and Cope (2007a) explored research on entrepreneurshi