The Ecosystem of Training the Future Leaders of the Digital World: Results of the Inclusion of “Internet Entrepreneurship” in the Educational Program of the University of Economics

Abstract

The article discusses the features of teaching the course “Internet entrepreneurship”, supported by the Foundation for development of Internet initiatives in universities in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan. The Department of “Business Informatics” of the Financial University has been teaching students and postgraduates the basics of entrepreneurship on the Internet since 2015. The authors highlight the problems of teaching students technological entrepreneurship. The key participants in the process of training specialists whose competencies can be in demand in the digital world are identified. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the learning process are given. An important advantage of the approach to teaching the course” Internet entrepreneurship” is the integration of Lean Startup methodology and Design thinking. The authors developed cases and practical recommendations for the creation of digital services based on the Human-Centered Design. The article also describes the developed business game “Your profession in the field of IT”. The tasks of the business game describe necessary personal qualities and competencies of 8 popular IT professions: Consultant, Presales, Product Manager, Software Developer, Support Engineer, Tester, Project Manager, System Administrator. A portrait of a typical representative of the profession, the type of behaviour in a conflict situation, behavioural characteristics is constructed. The game uses psychological tests, checks subject area knowledge, identification of communication skills, logic. The result of the game is a set of competencies inherent to the IT profession competency, as well as a roadmap for learning and the pattern of career development.