Beyond the entrepreneur: A study of entrepreneurial learning from a social practice perspective working with scientists in West Africa
通过分析一个与西非科学家合作的创业学习项目，挑战了创业学习仅属于企业家的传统观点，提出创业思维可通过非正式和经验学习在科学家等群体中培养，对管理学习和创业教育研究有启示。
This article contributes to extending the current conceptualisation of entrepreneurial learning by challenging the assumption that entrepreneurial learning is solely embodied in the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurial learning is an emergent trend that involves a developmental approach to learning in acting on opportunities and experiences. We apply a social practice theory to entrepreneurial learning to advance understanding of the value of entrepreneurial thinking towards informal, experiential and aspirational learning. We position entrepreneurial learning within the social learning and social practice literature in the (1) alternative formats to formal learning, and (2) implications of entrepreneurial learning, as a social practice, for management learning and entrepreneurship education research. Based on a qualitative empirical analysis of a co-created entrepreneurial learning programme for ‘Stimulating Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists’, this study shows that entrepreneurial thinking can be expanded beyond the entrepreneur, and developed by others such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics scientists. With the drive for individuals to become entrepreneurial in their everyday practices, our study contributes towards extending the conceptualisation of entrepreneurial learning through insights from social practice theory. In addition, by understanding the value of entrepreneurial thinking, particularly via non-formal and informal approaches to learning, our research expands underexposed issues of entrepreneurial learning across diverse audiences, contexts and disciplines.