“GraduatePLUS”: Another Building Block for the Entrepreneurial University

Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany with its headquaters, departments and students nowadays hardly refuse to become entrepreneurial. It is not only a question of employability of the graduates, next to much more it is also an important brick to a ressourceful and successfull attraction of students.

Here I am revamping an idea generated from my former job.

Entrepreneurial can mean (a) changing the management from "old style" to "new style" and (b) adding entrepreneurial impulses to the educational and research day by day work. Here I focus on one idea to do the latter:

“GraduatePLUS” as a Building Block of the Entrepreneurial University

An optimized mix of “ordinary” start-up and entrepreneurial support will consist of workshops, lectures, entrepreneurial ECTS points, entrepreneurship-inclusion in any fields of studies, incubation supports by the "founders services" and much more. Additionally, the concept of "GraduatePLUS" aims at a broader effect embracing all graduates.

Aim of GraduatePLUS

All graduates, Bachelor or Master or PhD, will demonstrate her/his entrepreneurial mindset when graduating. All thesis will have an annex/add-on on economic transfer.

Proposal for an implementation scenario

1. When discussing the topic of the forthcoming Master/Bachelor/PhD/Diploma-thesis the soon-graduates and the professors consider transfer options. Not only technological transfer, now focusing on economical and business aspects.
2. When it comes to writing, all theses will have a “GraduatePLUS”-chapter. In this chapter the graduate discusses one way of economically exploiting the idea of the thesis. This can be done by the use of the Business-Model Canvass or by the use of a different tool – which could be developed or adapted from other universities or institutions. For making this chapter more viable cooperating with industry or potential customers is welcome.
3. When starting to implement at the university, this “GraduatePLUS” chapter could be an add-on with no influence on the mark. In addition to the usual certificate the graduate would receive a “GraduatePLUS” certificate. In the long run the “GraduatePLUS” chapter becomes part of the study regulations and then this transfer-part is part of the usual grade.

Premises

Professors, deans, lecturers, administration, departments, all faculty is in for an entrepreneurial university. The executive board should be example and pioneer to this aim and supports “GraduatePLUS” actively - by words and speeches, but also by developing Business Model Canvases for parts of the University and by providing money for employees to support this program [- which will feed into the above mentioned "new style" management].

Needs

• Professional training for professors and lecturers to enable them to support and mark the “GraduatePLUS” Chapter
• Professional training for all soon-graduates to use the “GraduatePLUS” Chapter as a powerful tool to show their expertise in economical transfer-thinking
• Organizational, evaluatory and internal plus external marketing work for “GraduatePLUS” and for having “GraduatePLUS” as part of the integrated concept for an entrepreneurial university.

Prospects

“GraduatePLUS” emphasizes any universities competence for innovative solutions. “GraduatePLUS”certificates become an USP for graduates to apply for jobs and an important step when it comes to founding one's own company.