Assessment of Entrepreneurship in Higher Education: An evaluation of current practices and proposals for increasing authenticity

Track Dinning

Abstract


Focusing on the assessment of entrepreneurship, this paper adopts a qualitative research approach. Using data collected from twelve face-to-face interviews with enterprise educators, the paper demonstrates how these educators attempt to shift from the use of traditional to more innovative methods of assessment. The paper argues that adopting more innovative and authentic methods is less easy to administer, is time-consuming and more difficult to align with university regulations. Finally, the paper concludes with a set of proposals aligned to academics, students and external practitioners for making entrepreneurship assessment more authentic.


Keywords


Higher Education; Assessment; Entrepreneurship

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bacigalupo, M., Kampylis, P., Punie, Y. and Van den Brande, G. (2016) EntreComp: The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework. JRC Science Policy Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/entrecomp-entrepreneurship-competence-framework (Accessed: 24 September 2018).

Biggs, J. and Tang, C. (2011) Teaching for Quality Learning at University (4th edition). Buckingham: SRHE and Open University Press.

Bloxham, S. and Boyd, P. (2007) Developing effective assessment in higher education: a practical guide. Open University Press: McGraw-Hill.

Bloxham, S., Deouter, B., Hudson, J. and Price, M. (2015) ‘Let’s stop the pretence of consistent marking: exploring the multiple limitations of assessment criteria.’ Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(3), 466-481. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02602938.2015.1024607 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Boud, D and Soler, R. (2015) ‘Sustainable assessment revisited’. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education,41(3), 400-413. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02602938.2015.1018133?journalCode=caeh20(Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Bridgstock, R. (2009) ‘The graduate attributes we've overlooked: enhancing employability through career management skills.’ Higher Education Research & Development, 28(1), 31-44. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07294360802444347 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Biggs, J. (2003) Teaching for Quality and Learning at University. London: Open University Press.

Brown, S. (2015) ‘Authentic assessment: using assessment to help students learn.’RELIEVE, 21(2). Available at: https://www.uv.es/RELIEVE/v21n2/RELIEVEv21n2_M4eng.htm (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Brown, S. (2015) Learning, teaching and assessment in higher education: Global Perspectives, London: Palgrave-MacMillan.

Carey, C. and Matley, H. (2011) ‘Emergent issues in enterprise education: the educator’s perspective.’ Industry and Higher Education, 25(6), 441-450. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.5367/ihe.2011.0067(Assessed: 25 September 2018).

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2015) Understanding employers’ graduate recruitment and selection practices: main report. BIS Research paper No.231. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474251/BIS-15-464-employer-graduate-recruitment.pdf (Accessed: 27 September 2018).

Duval-Couetil, N. (2013) ‘Assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education programs:challenges and approaches.’ Journal of Small Business Management, 51(3), 394-409. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jsbm.12024 (Assessed: 26 September 2018).

European Commission (2008) Final Report of the expert group: Entrepreneurship in higher education, especially within non-business studies. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/final-report-expert-group-entrepreneurship-higher-education-especially-within-non-business-0_en (Accessed: 27 September 2018).

Falkang, J. and Alberti, F. (2000) ‘The assessment of entrepreneurship education.’ Industry and Higher Education,14(2), 101-108. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.5367/000000000101294931 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Gallegher, C., Hipkins, R. and Zohar,A. (2012) ‘Positioning things within national curriculum and assessment systems from Israel, New Zealand and Northern Ireland.’ Thinking Skills and Creativity, 7, 134-143. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/thinking-skills-and-creativity/vol/7/issue/2 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Gibb, A. (2002) In pursuit of a new enterprise and entrepreneurship paradigm for learning:creative destruction, new value, new ways and doing things and new combinations. International Journal of Management Review,4(3). Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-2370.00086 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Gratton, C. and Jones, I. (2010) Research methods for Sport Studies. Oxon: Routledge.

Litchfield, B.C. and Dempsey, J.V. (2015) ‘Authentic assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes.’ New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 142. 65-79. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/tl.20130 (Accessed: 24 September 2018).

Higher Education Academy (2012) A Marked Improvement: transforming assessment in higher education. York: Higher Education Academy.

Jones, C. (2006) ‘Enterprise education: revisiting Whitehead to satisfy Gibbs.’ Educationand Training, 48(5), 336-347. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/00400910610677045 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Jones, C., Matlay, H., Penaluna, K. and Penaluna, A. (2014) ‘Claiming the future of enterprise education.’ Education and Training, 56(8/9), 764-775. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/ET-06-2014-0065 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Jones, C. and Penaluna, A. (2013) ‘Moving beyond the business plan.’ Education and Training. 55(8/9), 804-814. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/ET-06-2013-0077 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Honig, B. (2004) ‘Entrepreneurship education: towards a model of contingency-basedbusiness planning.’ Academy of Management Leaning and Education, 3(3), 258-273. Available at: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2004.14242112 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Ipperciel, D. and ElAtia, S. (2014) ‘Assessing graduate attributes: Building a criteria –based competency model.’ International Journal of Higher Education, 3(3), 27-38. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1067490.pdf (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

James, R., McInnis, C., and Devlin, M. (2002) Assessing learning in Australian universities: ideas, strategies and resources for quality in students assessment. The University of Melbourne, Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Available at: http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30006784 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Kearney, S. (2013) ‘Improving Engagement: The Use of Authentic Self and Peer Assessment for Learning to Enhance the Student Learning Experience.’ Assessment and Evaluation, 38(7), 875-891. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02602938.2012.751963 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Klapper, R.G. and Farber, A. (2016) ‘In Alain Gibb's footsteps: Evaluation alternateapproaches to sustainable enterprise education.’ The International Journal of Management

Education, 14, 422-439. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472811716300556 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Knight, P. and Yorke, M. (2003) Assessment, learning and employability. London: Mc Graw Hill Education.

Knowles, M.S. (1986) Using learning contracts: Practical approaches to individualizing and structuring learning. New Jersey: Jossey-Bass.

Litchfield, B.C. and Dempsey, J.V. (2015) ‘Authentic assessment of knowledge, skills andattitudes.’ New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 142, 65-79. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/tl.20130 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Matley, H. (2006) ‘Researching entrepreneurship and education: Part2: what is entrepreneurship education and does it matter?’ Education and Training, 48(8/9), 704-718. Available at: https://emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/00400910610710119 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Maritz, P.A. (2017) ‘Illuminating the black box of entrepreneurship education programmes: Part 2.’ Education + Training, 59(5), 71-482. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/ET-02-2017-0018 (Accessed: 25 September 2018).

Meyer, J. and Land, R. (2013) Overcoming barriers to students understanding: Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge. London: Routledge.

Meyers, N. and Nulty, D. (2009) ‘How to use (five) curriculum design principles to align authentic learning environments, assessment, students’ approaches to thinking and learning outcomes.’ Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 34, 565-577. Available at: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ865458 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Medland, E. (2014) ‘Assessment in higher education: driver, barriers and directions for change in the UK.’ Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(1), 81-96. Available at: https://srhe.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2014.982072#.W6vNP0xFyUk (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Ogundele, O.J.K., Akingbade, W.A. and Akinlabi, H.B. (2012) ‘Entrepreneurship training and education as strategic tools for poverty alleviation in Nigeria.’ American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 2(1), 148-156. Available at: http://scholarpublishing.org/index.php/ABR/article/view/345 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Quality Assurance Agency (2012) Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Guidance for UK.higher education providers. London: The Quality Assurance Agency.

Penaluna, A. and Penaluna, K. (2009) ‘Assessing creativity: drawing from the experience of the UK’s creative design educators.’ Education and Training, 51(8/9), 718-732. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/00400910911005262 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Penaluna, K., Penaluna, A. and Jones, C. (2012) ‘The context of enterprise education: insights into current practice.’ Industry and Higher Education, 26(3), 163-175. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.5367/ihe.2012.0098 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Pittaway, L. and Cope, J. (2007) ‘Simulating entrepreneurial learning: integrating experiential and collaborative approaches to learning.’ Management Learning, 3(2), 221-233. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1350507607075776 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Pittaway, L., Hannon, P., Gibb, A. and Thompson, J. (2009) ‘Assessment practice inenterprise education.’ International Journal of Entrepreneurship Behaviour and Research,15(1), 71-93. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/13552550910934468 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Pittaway, L. and Edwards, C. (2012) ‘Assessment: examining practice in entrepreneurship education.’ Education and Training, 54(8/9), 778-800. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/00400911211274882 (Accessed: 26 September 2018)

Race, P. (2014) Making learning happen (3rd edition). London: Sage.

Race, P. (2015) The Lecturer’s Toolkit: A practical guide to assessment, learning and teaching (4th edition). London: Routledge.

Radloff, A., De La Harper, B., Dalton, H., Thomas, J. and Lawson, A. (2008) ‘Assessing graduate attributes: Engaging academic staff and their students.’ Conference proceedings: ATN Assessment, Engaging students in assessment. Adelaide, Australia. Available at: https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:2524 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Rae, D. (2007) Entrepreneurship: from opportunity to action. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Rae, D. (2010) ‘Universities and enterprise education: responding the challenges of a the new era.’ Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 17(4), 591-606. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/14626001011088741 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Reis, Reis, E. (2011) The Lean Startup. St Ives: Portfolio Penguin.

Research Starters (2014) Authentic assessment. ESBCO Research Starters. New York: Great Neck publishing New York.

Robinson, P. and Josien, L. (2014) ‘Entrepreneurial education: using “the challenge” in theory and practice.’ Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 17(2), 172-185. Available at: https://www.abacademies.org/articles/jeevol1722014.pdf (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Sadler, R. (2015) ‘Three in-course assessment reforms to improve higher education learning outcomes.’ Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(7), 1081-1099. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2015.1064858 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Smith, A.M.J. and Paton, R.A. (2011) ‘Delivering enterprise: A collaborative international approach to the development, implementation and assessment of entrepreneurship.’ International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research,17(1), 104-118. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/13552551111107534 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Tan, S. and Ng. C.K. (2006) ‘A problem-based learning approach to entrepreneurship education.’ Education and Training, 48(6), 416-428. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/00400910610692606 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Vu, T.T. and Dall'Alba, G. (2014) ‘Authentic Assessment for Student Learning: An ontological conceptualisation.’ Educational Philosophy and Theory, 4(7), 778-791. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131857.2013.795110 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Whitelock, D. and Cross, S. (2011) Academics’ understanding of authentic assessment.International Computer Assisted Asessment Conference. Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82962493.pdf (Accessed: 03 December 2017).

Wickramasinghe, V. and Perera, L. (2010) ‘Graduates’ university lecturers’ and Employers’ perception towards employability skills.’ Education and Training, 3(3), 226-244. Available at: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/00400911011037355 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).

Wong, P., Ho, Y. and Singh, A. (2007) ‘Towards an “Entrepreneurial University” Model to Support Knowledge-Based Economic Development: The Case of the National University of Singapore.’ World Development, 35(6), 941-958. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X07000381 (Accessed: 26 September 2018).




DOI: https://doi.org/10.21100/compass.v11i2.774

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2018 Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching