Kufstein University SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

The founders and owners of a company are usually referred to as entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Education aims to develop entrepreneurial attitudes and skills / competencies that are necessary for successfully founding and managing a business and for leading an independent, self-reliant life. In addition to teaching business-related basics and building up specialist knowledge, the degree program in Business Management (now: Leadership & Business Management) at the Kufstein University is primarily aimed at developing a feel for attractive opportunities, formulating an entrepreneurial vision and working on its implementation. Important skills / competencies such as the ability to innovate, the willingness to execute as well as social and self-competencies are trained. Entrepreneurs usually strive for longer-term perspectives and sustainable business models. Economic success, ecological awareness and social responsibility are not contradictory here, but rather help to develop a new awareness of sustainability issues. “Entrepreneurs also have a lot in common with so-called intrapreneurs,” says Karin Steiner, lecturer in the Business Management degree program at Kufstein University. “This refers to employees who think and act entrepreneurially and contribute to implementing new ideas within an existing company through their innovation orientation and high intrinsic motivation.”

OFFERS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

In cooperation with strong partners, such as the Startup.Tirol start-up center, the Kufstein Chamber of Commerce, the Kufstein Innovation Space and Sparkasse Kufstein, Kufstein Universtiy offers an annual business idea competition Fit4Business, in which founders receive feedback and support for potential start-up projects from experienced experts. The INNoCamp Kufstein open innovation competition focuses on methods and tools for creative, entrepreneurial idea generation and problem-solving skills. “Interdisciplinary teams of students work in a moderated process for ten days on the real challenges faced by regional business partners,” says Steiner. “In addition, experts from the entrepreneurship ecosystem are regularly invited to give guest lectures, for example at Startup.Club Tirol, Edition Kufstein.”

TARGET GROUP PUPILS

Other offers are aimed at pupils who gain their first insights into entrepreneurship as part of the Fit4Business@School competition. In workshops, they learn about the path from idea to business model and can then develop their own initial business ideas and present them to a panel of experts. The €7 Cash@School competition goes one step further to demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking and action. With a starting capital of just seven euros, the aim is to develop a real business idea and successfully implement it in around seven weeks of business activity. The projects are presented to a panel of experts at the Kufstein University in the grand finale and rewarded with attractive prize money. So far, 96 teams of three to five students from a total of seven partner schools have taken part in this project, generating a total profit of around 35,000 euros. Upon completion, the teams donated the proceeds to charitable projects of their choice.

DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS / COMPETENCIES

“Entrepreneurship is a key driver for the growth and development of economies,” emphasizes Steiner. “By promoting entrepreneurship, we not only contribute to job creation and prosperity, but also to the development of sustainable business models.”