Student Entrepreneurship Societies as the change agents of the future world of work? (presentation at 3E ECSB Entrepreneurship Education Conference, 2018)

Abstract

<p>

</p><p><b>Questions we care about (Objectives) </b></p><p>

</p><p>Entrepreneurship Societies have been defined in research literature as extra-curricular, informal, non-accredited, student-led organizations that aim to promote entrepreneurship by arranging various activities around entrepreneurship but so far only a few studies have investigated them (Pittaway et al. 2011; Pittaway et al. 2015), and even fewer that have focused on ESs in Finland (Parkkari & Kohtakangas 2018). This is surprising given that there are already 19 entrepreneurship societies in 13 cities in Finland (StartupFinland 2018), and are actively contributing to start-up culture in different ways. We aim to fill this gap by investigating the following research questions: (1) What kinds of collective ES identities are constructed? (2) How do the two ESs position themselves in the HE context and the world of work? (3) How is entrepreneurship, employability and the world of work discursively constructed in the ES group discussions? </p><p>

</p><p><b>Approach </b></p><p>

</p><p>The paper assumes a qualitative, discursive approach based on an analysis of two ES board group discussions in two Finnish Entrepreneurship Societies. We apply a discursive approach to analyze our data focusing on cultural divisions, interpretations, modes of speech, categorizations and discursive practices (Pietilä 2010.) Theoretically we draw from the collective identity (Polletta and Jasper, 2001); how contribute the common collective identity defining story that is internalized and shared between the members (Wry et al., 2011). </p><p>

</p><p><b>Results</b></p><p>

</p><p>The group discussions construct a homogeneous collective identity for the Entrepreneurship society. The ESs position themselves as change agents. World of work is depicted as static state and old-fashioned, and the future is seen through changing employment structures and multiple revenue streams. The ES members believe to possess entrepreneurial skills (through ES) necessary to take charge of their future work, and to cope in the uncertain and unpredictable future. The collective identity is enforced by humour and laughter, and the ES members are promoting forward-looking optimism, courage, and individual initiative. The strong collective identity and sense of committing to doing things together mitigates the pressures of being entrepreneurial and neoliberal ideas of individual responsibility. </p><p>

</p><p><b>Value/Originality</b></p><p>

</p><p>Our study is one of the few to investigate Entrepreneurship Societies. In particular we demonstrate how they constructing a collective identity by navigating between the individual initiative and collective support by working and doing together in a supportive, playful environment filled with humour and laughter. This we interpret as a coping mechanism needed for coping with the future filled with uncertainty. </p><p>

</p><p><b>Key words: </b>Higher Education,<b> </b>Entrepreneurship Society, collective identity, entrepreneurship, employability, the world of work<br /></p>