New course to shape future entrepreneurs
A new Western Australian course looks set to shape a generation of entrepreneurs.
Business Management and Enterprise is one of the new courses being developed by the Curriculum Council as part of its new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
All the new courses have been designed to better prepare students for further education and training, and the demands of today's workforce. They have been designed to be more flexible, creative and engaging for all students.
Developed with the support of universities, TAFE, the Business Educators of WA, and the chairman of the Small Business Development Corporation, the business course has a strong emphasis on decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, collaboration and risk taking.
Due for implementation in Western Australian schools in Year 11 in 2008, Business Management and Enterprise has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to understand how business impacts on every aspect of our lives.
As well as a solid grounding in the importance of business to the global economy, students will be equipped with 'life skills' to make them more employable and enterprising.
This course directly targets several of the national goals for schooling, which centre on communication, problem-solving, collaboration and organisation.
Curriculum Council project officer, Cathy Moore, said the development of skills such as effective communication and high productivity are transferable skills that will assist students throughout life.
"The course demands explicit teaching about how to use a range of tools to develop creative and critical thinking skills. These skills have always been important for entrepreneurs, but were often not explicitly taught in the former business courses," Ms Moore said.
She said exposure to a wide range of business activities and management strategies will empower students and help them appreciate the significance of their role as both participants and consumers in the business world.
"The course aims to prepare students for a future where they will need to identify possibilities and create opportunities within a business environment," she said.
"The new emphasis on enterprise and innovation will develop students' ability to adapt quickly to changing situations and to think laterally when pursuing goals, while adhering to constraints of time, resources and systems. Such ability is highly valued in 21st century employment situations, and is critical for anyone wishing to operate their own business."
The Curriculum Council's director of course accreditation and review, John Gougoulis, said students of the course will be well-prepared for university entry in fields such as business and commerce. The course will also provide opportunities for students to develop strong links to TAFE through the VET version of the course.
"This is a relevant and contemporary course focusing on various aspects of business management and operations," Mr Gougoulis said.
"It will undoubtedly open up many career opportunities," he said.
"Business Management and Enterprise also complements Western Australia's new Career and Enterprise course, which examines business from the perspective of the individual."
The Curriculum Council is currently exploring an exam format involving students being sent a business case study prior to the exam and being asked 'unpredictable' questions based on the business.
The formal consultation draft of the Business Management and Enterprise course is available for comment until 20 October. A sample exam will be developed by the end of the year.
