Current Projects of the Institute
'Enterprising Capabilities Initiative
Lead researcher and contact - Amanda Hughes
The project aims to evaluate the 'Entrepreneurial Capabilities Initiative' at Mitchell High School, Stoke-on-Trent, namely 'Mo Chaudrey's Step-Up Programme'.
The Step-Up Programme involves the participation of a group of approximately 20 Year 11 students in a series of enterprise-related activities that have been designed in cooperation with local employers. These activities are designed to improve students' enterprise capabilities with the aim that they will enhance their future participation in the labour market, making it less likely that they will enter the 'NEET' group and more likely that they will take on a position of responsibility within gainful employment or self-employment. In the short-term the research will focus on the impact of the programme on students' enterprise skills. Our research aims/questions are:
1. Is the programme
helping to improve students' enterprise capabilities?
2. Which aspects of the programme are the most effective?
3. What lessons from the programme could inform wider practice in schools?
Data is being collected
from ten students taking part in the Step-Up Programme using semi-structured
interviews. In addition, data on entrepreneurial self-efficacy is being
collected from all Year 11 students using quantitative methods (i.e. questionnaires).
The project began in October 2008 and is due to complete in July 2009.
