The Design and Development of a Web-Based E-Learning Platform for the Understanding and Acquisition of Various Entrepreneurial Skills in SMEs and Industry

Abstract

In recent times, the role of entrepreneurs has been recognized to be of great significance in accelerating the pace of growth of economic development of any country. Internet-enabled technologies have also challenged existing business models in numerous market sectors and offered innovation opportunities to a variety of stakeholders--not least SMEs (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises). The focus of this paper is on the development and design of an educational Web-based e-learning platform tool that presents a possible future scenario of a platform for the acquisition of innovative entrepreneurship skills and technology transfer needs of school leavers and graduates from higher institutions of learning. The platform enables the display of various product design and job-related entrepreneurship skills that are capable of bringing together students, teachers, researchers, and experts from industry and economic life. This learning in network promotion of SMEs sector offers students unlimited possibilities to acquire new knowledge and explore business linkages in various dimensions. An important ingredient of the system is a mechanism that gives illumination of basic concepts, procedures, stages, and essential indices for acquiring entrepreneurial skills through content dissemination, monitoring, evaluation, control, and accountability in globalised environment. Other features include provisions for the learning of multiple-instruments used in industries, individual and group tasks, hands-on sessions, games, and organizational learning in entrepreneurship and visual visitation display of industrial sites. The approach is cost-effective and the solution is suitable for a variety of platforms. It could, for example, be used as a platform for acquiring "online degree in entrepreneurship education". With a degree in entrepreneurship, students can develop the basic understanding that they need for starting their own business. This will ultimately promote employability of graduates in the globalised economy. An appendix provides a checklist covering various sectors of the economy. (Contains 2 figures.)