Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Overview

The Leadership and Entrepreneurship course from The University of Edinburgh is aimed for students to understand the link between entrepreneurial theory and practice. It offers an introduction to some of the key areas of entrepreneurship research, and illustrates these theoretical insights with cases from a wide range of industries, sectors and countries. Students will learn to reflect on the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship and strengthen their critical thinking skills through discussion and practical exercises, including the development of a start-up business model. The combination of theory, methodology and practice will help students understand the challenges of entrepreneurship in the real world, achieving a holistic view of this phenomenon and its different facets. 

Structure

The course is divided into four parts. In the first part, students will explore the foundations of entrepreneurship, including definitions of entrepreneurship, characteristics of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial networks and the context in which they operate. It will also introduce fundamental concepts, such as the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the digital ecosystem. The second part focuses on start-up planning and will introduce methodological tools such as the Business Model Canvas. The third part will cover entrepreneurial finance, and the fourth part will provide an overview of processes occurring beyond the start-up phase, such as entrepreneurial growth, exit and entrepreneurship policy. 

Students will develop a holistic view of entrepreneurship through lectures and tutorials which connect theory and practice. They will learn to use methodologies such as the Business Model Canvas to build a start-up propositions. This model allows students to contextualise the start-up journey within a broader context, identifying other factors influencing the development and survival of a start-up. The tutorials will provide an opportunity for students to work in groups and learn from their peers.