Teaching Entrepreneurship for Computer Science and Engineering Students Using Active Learning Pedagogical Strategies

Contribution: This innovative practice full paper presents a novel approach based on active learning pedagogical strategies and entrepreneurship programmes to teach entrepreneurship to computer science and engineering students. The proposed approach has been tailored for undergraduate classes in order to provide the students with the initial stages of developing a technological startup. Background: Within the computer science and engineering literature, there are some interesting works that deal with entrepreneurial education in different levels and concepts. However, there has not been a paper describing a hands-on approach that makes them experience the important initial stages of a startup. Intended Outcomes: By the end of the course the students will be able to: (1) Validate whether or not their idea can become a business; (2) Build a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for their solution; (3) Elaborate a Business Model Canvas (BMC); (4) Present their solution and BMC to potential investors. Application Design: There are some very interesting approaches to teach entrepreneurship in programmes outside of the university, such as the startup weekend, which has created several successful startups. Findings: Before taking this module the majority of the students did not have any contact with any type of entrepreneurship education programme or startup related event such as hackathons. While taking the module, several students attended related events. Some of them got involved with other university entrepreneurship initiates.