When I grow up, I want to be an entrepreneur!

Courageous, innovative, digital: these were the key words of the 88th International Conference of the International Society for Business Education (SIEC-ISBE) which took place at FH JOANNEUM in Graz from 31 July until 5 August 2016.

Entrepreneurship Education – Regional and International’ was the topic addressed by experts from the worlds of academia and professional practice. For example, Markus Tomaschitz, AVL, encouraged all participants to “unleash their inner entrepreneur” and to do this with others too. Educators from a total of 16 nations (including participants from the USA, Iceland and Puerto Rico) discussed the latest approaches in the field of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship education. They agreed that learners need to become more courageous and creative. The task of the teachers will be to support the learners in developing creative solutions within a digital environment and help them to develop networked thinking and awaken their own entrepreneurial spirit.

The conference was organised in cooperation with the SIEC-ISBE, the Institute for Business Education at the University of Graz and the Industrial Management and International Management Institutes at FH JOANNEUM. The focus was on professional discussion and international exchange. Potential research cooperations were discussed and initial ideas put on paper. Another highlight was the excursion to Maribor, Slovenia, which emphasised the transnational collaboration between Austria and Slovenia.