A software engineering course that promotes entrepreneurship: Insights from a VUCA perspective

Abstract

In a context of higher volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), engineering education must promote active learning approaches, where the responsibility of learning is focused on students, enhancing their competencies and ability to be competitive in the market. But, such educational strategies encompass many issues, questions and challenges, both for teachers and students. This article presents and discusses the main changes that have been introduced in a course that promotes entrepreneurship in the field of software engineering. The changes were introduced to address two main aims: (1) to provide opportunities for students to experiment new skills, that prepare them to better behave in a VUCA context, and (2) to make the course more efficiently managed. External elements and personal issues complement the intrinsic motivation related to the course on entrepreneurship.