Securing the expertise and skills of students planning to become entrepreneurs forms the cornerstone of entrepreneurship education at the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences. This applies to all fields of education which are offered, e.g. social sciences, natural sciences, social services, health and sports, or for instance tourism. Some 2000 students are studying here under supportive conditions to which belong the BEPART project team business teachers.

Kajaani is situated in the geographical centre of Finland. It is the provincial capital of Kainuu region, part of Oulu province. The town was founded in 1651 and is now home to 36,000 people. The main industries are forestry and wood processing although tourism is a growing area of enterprise. Kajaani’s electronics companies and research establishments also occupy an important position in the working life of the city.

Entrepreneurship is more than a committed field in the teaching and learning of Kajaani Univ. of Appl. Sciences as some 40 percent of its teachers have already acted as project-learning instructors and about 10 percent have already acted as mentors to students in drawing up actual business plans. Entrepreneurship mentoring has been implemented using the development transfer theory (e.g. Engenström Yrjö). The groundwork is laid by basic entrepreneurship information which is provided in all fields of education (accounting, marketing, legal issues). Further entrepreneurial learning is defined by students’ choice and is also offered in any field with the idea to promote in-depth professional skills in practical expert duties. Project studies are a major pedagogical approach. Kajability Ltd, a polytechnic student’s learning enterprise, has been operating at the Kajaaani Polytechnic since 1997 already. The enterprise is owned by the University’s students, staff and partners and is managed by the students. Teachers act as mentors, ensuring that all customer projects are backed up by a polytechnic theoretical basis. With its successfully developed and supported business ideas and ventures Kajability Ltd can certainly be regarded as the Polytechnic’s pre-incubator.

BEPART activities focus on improving, exchanging and disseminating the pedagogical and mentoring methods in entrepreneurship education and training, on the regional impact and co-operation, and on further strengthening the international, trans-European collaboration in that field.

Responsible local project manager and contact-person:

Mika Määttä

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Research and Development Unit
Ketunpolku 3
FIN 87101 Kajaani

http://www.kajak.fi/

Mika Määtä

Phone +358-8-61899607
Fax +358-8-6189 9640
mika.maatta@kajak.fi