Embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship into a core final year bioscience module

Mismatches have been identified between STEM HE providers and employers, particularly in areas such as creativity, innovation and enterprise. To address such disparities, we initiated a strategy to not only enhance the delivery of enterprise directly within the curriculum, but to enable a much closer integration of our enterprise support services in helping embed contextualised bioscience enterprise activities. Subsequently, we have integrated several broader university initiatives such as the university‘s enterprise competition and hackcentre into a core final year module. This has afforded students experiential learning with the opportunities to work in interdisciplinary teams and to engage employers in exploring and solving real-world scenarios often based on real-life briefs. Initiatives for student‘s have also been complimented with in-school training sessions to empower and equip staff with the necessary tools in delivering these enterprise education/activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to continue these initiatives and take advantage of the new virtual world to advance new ways of presenting enterprise and engagement with employers. This presentation will share some of our experiences in developing, delivering and reflecting on the development of a bioscience research and enterprise module.