TY - JOUR

T1 - What is (the point of) an entrepreneur in residence?

T2 - The Lancaster University experience, with some worldwide comparisons

AU - George, Magnus

AU - Gordon, Ian

AU - Hamilton, Eleanor

PY - 2010/12/1

Y1 - 2010/12/1

N2 - The teaching of entrepreneurship as an academic subject, as opposed to the apprenticeship route, is the subject of ongoing debate. The authors suggest that there is a middle road and that, by integrating the business world into teaching in a significant way, the best of both approaches can be achieved. In a similar vein, the credibility of some university interaction with small business has been called into question. The authors discuss how they have used the role of ‘entrepreneur in residence’ (EIR) to integrate and improve research, teaching and academic–business interaction. The paper describes the experiences of the EIR hosted at Lancaster University Management School’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (IEED) in the UK and examines the outcomes of his work and his perceptions of university life; how his presence challenged internal thinking; and how his fellowship led to service innovation in the host organization. Other formalized EIR activities within and outside the UK are also reviewed; and the authors conclude by proposing how UK HEIs might best make use of similar opportunities, with a challenge to non-management departments. The paper demonstrates one way in which the perceived gulf between entrepreneurship teaching and the business world can be bridged to good effect

AB - The teaching of entrepreneurship as an academic subject, as opposed to the apprenticeship route, is the subject of ongoing debate. The authors suggest that there is a middle road and that, by integrating the business world into teaching in a significant way, the best of both approaches can be achieved. In a similar vein, the credibility of some university interaction with small business has been called into question. The authors discuss how they have used the role of ‘entrepreneur in residence’ (EIR) to integrate and improve research, teaching and academic–business interaction. The paper describes the experiences of the EIR hosted at Lancaster University Management School’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (IEED) in the UK and examines the outcomes of his work and his perceptions of university life; how his presence challenged internal thinking; and how his fellowship led to service innovation in the host organization. Other formalized EIR activities within and outside the UK are also reviewed; and the authors conclude by proposing how UK HEIs might best make use of similar opportunities, with a challenge to non-management departments. The paper demonstrates one way in which the perceived gulf between entrepreneurship teaching and the business world can be bridged to good effect

KW - entrepreneur in residence

KW - entrepreneurship education

KW - entrepreneurship curriculum

U2 - 10.5367/ihe.2010.0015

DO - 10.5367/ihe.2010.0015

M3 - Journal article

VL - 24

SP - 495

EP - 503

JO - Industry and Higher Education

JF - Industry and Higher Education

SN - 0950-4222

IS - 6

ER -