Integrating enterprise education with science and engineering degrees: A case study

Abstract

Characterised by post industrial capitalism, the UK economy, as in other modern nations, is increasingly based on innovation, knowledge and enterprise. The UK government is focused on expanding the volume of science and engineering-based businesses (DTI, 2002; Rosa, 2003), as these knowledge intensive areas are seen as key to improving competitiveness within industries and nationally. There are obvious implications for education, and particularly higher education, in this context (Hannon, 2006). This case study focuses on the provision of enterprise education for students pursuing degrees in science or engineering at Heriot-Watt University. Heriot-Watt has a long tradition of educating scientists and engineers (O'Farrell, 2004), and the disciplines are well developed and internationally respected. The challenge has been providing a means by which science and engineering programmes have experienced enterprise education, in order that the realities of the modern enterprise economy are conveyed to the benefit of students and industry alike.