Community Colleges as Incubators of Innovation: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Communities and Students (Innovative Ideas for Community Colleges) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620368633 ISBN 13: 9781620368633

Publisher: Routledge, 2019

Synopsis

While community colleges have traditionally focused on providing students with opportunities to gain credentials for employment, the increasingly important question is: Are they preparing students for the looming dynamic, disruptive, and entrepreneurial environments ahead? This book addresses the urgent need for community colleges to prioritize entrepreneurship education both to remain relevant in a changing economy and to give graduate students the flexible and interdisciplinary mindsets needed for the future of society. It argues that entrepreneurial education should be offered broadly to a wide range of students, and across all disciplines; defines the key constructs for achieving this objective; and describes how to create entrepreneurial learning environments.The expert contributors, with the support of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), start from the premise that community colleges are uniquely positioned to lead entrepreneurial initiatives through both internally-generated curriculum design and through collaboration with the local entrepreneurial community to build bridges between the classroom to the community which in turn can offer models of implementation and constitute a network or support system for students. Community colleges can become incubators of innovation, a magnet for talent, and provide the impetus for development strategies that their communities have not begun to realize. As the chapters make clear, developing an entrepreneurial program itself requires an entrepreneurial mindset that transcends any lack of resources, requiring a spirit of imagination and resourcefulness. This book takes the reader on a journey through the steps needed to build a meaningful, relevant, and sustainable entrepreneurship program, covering program development, curriculum design, appropriate pedagogical approaches, and community engagement.

About this title

About the Author

Rebecca A. Corbin has served in leadership roles in the community college system for the past decade, as president and CEO of NACCE, and as vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the Foundation for Rowan College at Burlington County in New Jersey. Her passion is fundraising, and sharing thought leadership and practical applications for infusing entrepreneurship on campus and in communities by writing articles and presenting at national and international conferences. She has an Ed.D. in innovation and organizational leadership from Wilmington University in Delaware, a master’s of public administration from the University of Akron, and a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University. Ron Thomas served for 17 years as president of two-year colleges. He joined the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship in 2003, serving as a board member and chairman for two years. During his tenure as chairman Thomas was instrumental in the launch of the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge (PFEP) in 2011. His passion for entrepreneurship includes writing articles, presenting at national conferences, and working to create entrepreneurship programs and opportunities. He has a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and an undergraduate degree from Truman State University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1620368633
• ISBN 13: 9781620368633
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 204
• Editor: Corbin Rebecca A., Thomas Ron