Embedding entrepreneurial skills development in teacher education

Abstract

This chapter reflects upon the developmental process that informed the UK's first credit-bearing 'entrepreneurial educators' module within the Professional/Postgraduate Certificate in Education/Post Compulsory Education and Training (PGCE/PCET) programme, and the policy lessons that emerged from the work. Following a feasibility study conducted in 2009/2010, funded by the Welsh Government, the study programme was designed to complement the formal teacher training provision in the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and aims to develop a student teacher's creativity, innovation, problem-solving and business acumen, in addition to developing attributes such as the capacity to cope with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk. Teachers are provided with experience in business as part of their continuous professional development, giving teachers an opportunity to understand and embed the skills and attitudes that are required in the world of work and business into their teaching of the school curriculum. This chapter illuminates key factors, in particular how neuroscience informed the approaches to teaching and learning and outlines the module's indicative contents. It also outlines and aligns the relevant pedagogic practices that are employed. It concludes by presenting the catalysts that could drive further development of this area of work.