Scaling Higher Education Innovation using the Entrepreneurial Mindset
SHINE is an international project organised by the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, involving 44 partners in 30 countries, who are collaborating to investigate Scaling Higher Education Innovation using the Entrepreneurial mindset.Entrepreneurial Mindset Network is an international community of practice for the creation of value in society through the use of the entrepreneurial mindset by higher education leaders, public policy innovators, corporate intrapreneurs, ecosystem builders, business owners, and learning innovators.Paul Coyle is the Founder and Executive Director of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network and SHINE project leader. He is an expert in the entrepreneurial mindset, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and organisational change.
Introduction
Many higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world engage in entrepreneurial activities. However, these opportunities only involve a tiny percentage of the total number of students, academics, and societal stakeholders. There is a need for better understanding of how HEIs could scale up their entrepreneurial activities to engage substantially larger numbers of people.SHINE is investigating 2 major research questions: -
1 How can Higher Education scale up existing entrepreneurial and innovation capacity for the benefit of greater numbers of students and societal stakeholders?2 How can Higher Education apply key concepts from entrepreneurship (i.e. entrepreneurial mindset, start-up and scale-up) to overcome the typical barriers to change management?
In effect the aim of the project is to investigate how higher education professionals can use the entrepreneurial mindset to improve teaching, research, organisational transformation and societal impact.
Outputs and resources
The project has generated a range of resources for use by higher education leaders and learning innovators. The first resource is a collection of summaries from 21 webinars (see the section below). Secondly, the document Recommendations for curriculum, teaching and extra-curricula activities is designed to inspire academics to take action to enhance the quality of their teaching and learning. Thirdly, the project has developed a free online Mindset Behaviours Analysis (MBA) Tool that academics can use with students from any academic discipline. A chapter about the SHINE Project appears in the book 'Entrepreneurship Education and Internationalisation: Cases, Collaborations and Contexts.'Work is continuing on two major areas of investigation. First, the analysis of anonymised data collected by the MBA Tool is providing new insights into the current level of entrepreneurial behaviours of students. Secondly, detailed investigation has begun into 'Advancing the concept and practice of the entrepreneurial university'. New recommendations, book chapters and journal papers are planned.
Webinars
To date the project has organised 21 webinars, attracting registrations from people in 65 countries. Participants have included academics from a diverse range of academic disciplines, PhD researchers, professional support staff (eg enterprise projects coordinator, head of business engagement, head of the international office), entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, managers of SMEs, and incubator managers.Thank you to the webinar speakers from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Estonia, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA for taking the time to share their inspiring stories.Webinar summaries have been created for all 21 webinars and they are designed to be a useful resource for higher education professionals to reflect on and improve their practice. The summaries of the webinars are organised into 4 pillars:1) The Entrepreneurial Mindset (Individual Behaviours & Tools)
2) Entrepreneurial Pedagogy (Curriculum & Teaching Methods)
3) The Entrepreneurial University (Institutional Strategy, Culture & Leadership)
4) Partnerships, Ecosystems & Societal Value (External Impact & Policy)Use the Network's proven RI:SE Framework for your personal and organisational development.Reflect and Initiate: use the real-life lessons from the individual articles and the executive summary to reflect on your personal practice and to initiate new actions for improvement.Scale and Excel: the Network’s masterclasses and consultancy are designed to help an organisation scale entrepreneurial ways of working so it can excel in its innovation and impact.
Pillar 1: The Entrepreneurial Mindset (Individual Behaviours & Tools)
Focus: Defining, measuring, and developing the mindset at the individual level—for students of all disciplines, researchers, and employees. This pillar moves the conversation past traditional business-creation definitions of entrepreneurship, framing the mindset as a critical life skill for everyone. It focuses on actionable behaviours and reflective tools to help individuals adapt to the changing future of work. Click on any image below to read the webinar summary on screen or to download a PDF.
Pillar 2: Entrepreneurial Pedagogy (Curriculum & Teaching Methods)
Focus: The "what" and "how" of teaching entrepreneurship, transitioning from theoretical lectures to active, experiential learning. This pillar addresses curriculum content and teaching methods, and advocates for a shift from passive lecturing to hands-on "learning by doing" and realistic project simulations. Click on any image below to read the webinar summary on screen or to download a PDF.
Pillar 3: The Entrepreneurial University (Institutional Strategy, Culture & Leadership)
Focus: Reforming HEIs to embed an entrepreneurial culture across governance, strategy, and staff operations. This pillar addresses the systemic transition of a university from a traditional, risk-averse institution into an entrepreneurial organisation, highlighting the gaps between strategic rhetoric and operational reality. Click on any image below to read the webinar summary on screen or to download a PDF.
Pillar 4: Partnerships, Ecosystems & Societal Value (External Impact & Policy)
Focus: How universities collaborate with businesses, governments, and civil society to generate shared economic, cultural, and social value. This pillar captures the university's "third mission". It examines the mechanics of external collaboration, the transfer of knowledge, and the wider role of higher education in addressing societal challenges like youth unemployment. Click on any image below to read the webinar summary on screen or to download a PDF.
Project partners
In total, SHINE partners represent 44 industry and higher education professionals from 30 countries in Africa, Europe, India, the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia and the UK. The diversity of the partners means that SHINE has crossed subject discipline, organisational, geographic, and cultural boundaries.The countries represented by the all the partners are:13 European Union countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain)
4 African countries (Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria & Tunisia)
4 Southeastern Europe countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia)
3 United Kingdom countries (England, Northern Ireland & Scotland)
3 South Asia countries (India, Malaysia and Pakistan)
2 countries in the Americas (Ecuador & USA)
1 Middle East country (Türkiye)Two founding partners (Paul Coyle and Yancy Vaillant) are expert members of the OECD Platform for Entrepreneurship Education Collaboration and Engagement, EECOLE. Three founding partners (Marco Lamas, Milica Jovanović and Paul Coyle) are members of the Business Innovation Lab at ISLA - Instituto Politécnico de Gestão e Tecnologia in Porto, Portugal.
Founding Partners: Alison Price (Enterprise Evolution, England), Bob Bastian (Università di Trento, Italy), Enikő Koppány (University of Szeged, Hungary), Isobel Cunningham (Atlantic Technological University, Ireland), Marco Lamas (ISLA Gaia, Portugal), Milica Jovanović (University of Belgrade, Serbia), Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Roberto Brambilla (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Sarah Roberts (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, England), Stefan Chichevaliev (Social Entrepreneurship Observatory, North Macedonia), Teuta Hazizi (Aleksandër Xhuvani University of Elbasan, Albania), Viviana Premazzi (Global Mindset Development, Malta, and Yancy Vaillant (TBS Education, Spain).Partners: Abhimanyu Goyal (Amity University Punjab, India), Admir Salihagić (International BURCH University, Bosonia & Herzegovina), Aiday Kara (Firat University,Türkiye) Dr AJ Ghazali (Management and Science University, Malaysia), Anna Górecka (Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland), Babatunde Agbi (KolaDaisi University, Nigeria), Carine Chisu (Independent, Belgium), Chris Peters (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, England), Christian Friedl (FH Joanne, Austria), Dev K Dutta (University of New Hampshire, USA), Dharmender Yadav (Delhi School of Economics, India), Ellen Burgdorf-Schröder (Harz University of Applied Sciences, Germany), Gerson Sopó Montero (Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador), Kelly Johnston (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, England), Lamia El Ayouby (Newgiza University, Egypt), Lorena (Alikaj) Serjanaj (University of Vlora "Ismail Qemali", Albania), Louise Kerr (Arity, Northern Ireland), Mokuba Mave (De Montfort University, England), Mustapha Lakehal (Agence Tunisienne de la Formation Professionnelle, Tunisia), Neil Bowie (University of Dundee, Scotland), Nigel Adams (University of Buckingham, England), Pauline Bremner (Robert Gordon University, Scotland), Rabii Outamha (Independent, Morocco), Rafia Minhas (Central Park Medical College, Pakistan), Rasha Elsawy (University of Essex, England) Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland), Sarah Church (London South Bank University, England), Simon Harrison (Lancaster University, England), Stefan GG (GemSeek, Bulgaria), Tamara Čolić Milosavljević (Founder Institute, Serbia) and Veronica Maier (Technical University of Cluj-Napoca).SHINE is proud to support two Jean Monnet Module Projects AIM-GREEN and EEE4EIA and the development of higher education in Albania.
Webinar summaries: references
Copyright notice. You may quote, paraphrase or refer to information in the webinar summaries on condition that you credit the author and publisher by using the following references.Baird, S.R., Coyle, P., Jacobs, D., and Young, S. (2021). The entrepreneurial mindset and the future of work. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Danie Jacobs (Young Entrepreneurs Virtual Academy, South Africa), Sherisa Rajah Baird (Employment Lawyer, England) and Stacey J Young (Consultant, Canada) PDF linkBarakat, H., Bastian, B., Chan, C., and Coyle, P. (2021). Student entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Bob Bastian (Università di Pavia, Italy), Cyron Chan (CEO Class, Hong Kong) and Hala Barakat (AUC School of Business, Egypt) PDF linkBastian, B., Chichevaliev, S., Coyle, P. and Vaillant, Y. (2022). Who benefits from academic research into entrepreneurship? Part two. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Bob Bastian, (Università di Pavia, Italy), Stefan Chichevaliev (SEO, North Macedonia) and Yancy Vaillant (TBS, Spain) PDF linkBastian, B., Coyle, P., and Crammond, R. (2024). The benefits of the entrepreneurial mindset for every PhD student. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Bob Bastian (Università di Trento, Italy), Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland). PDF linkBastian, B., Coyle, P., Koppány, E., and Vaillant, Y. (2022). How Higher Education supports startups. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Bob Bastian (Università di Trento, Italy), Enikő Koppány (University of Szeged, Hungary) and Yancy Vaillant (TBS, Spain) PDF linkBowie, N., Brambilla, R., Coyle, P. and Omar, Z. (2021). Entrepreneurial mindset fundamentals. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Roberto Brambilla, (UNICATT, Italy), Neil Bowie (University of Dundee, Scotland) and Zohra Omar (Consultant, Pakistan) PDF linkBrambilla, R., Chichevaliev, S., Coyle, P., and Premazzi, V. (2023). Partnerships that create value in society. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Roberto Brambilla (UNICATT, Italy), Stefan Chichevaliev (SEO, North Macedonia) and Viviana Premazzi, Founder (GMD, Malta). PDF linkChisu, C., Coyle, P., Mave, M., Premazzi, V., and Vaillant, Y. (2023). Can graduate entrepreneurship be an answer to youth unemployment? Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Carine Chisu (Learning Innovator, Belgium), Mokuba Mave (De Montfort University, England), Viviana Premazzi (GMD, Malta) and Yancy Vaillant (TBS, Spain) PDF linkCoyle, P., and Crammond, R. (2025). Advancing the concept and practice of the entrepreneurial university. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland). PDF linkCoyle, P., and Crammond, R. (2025). The entrepreneurial university: concepts and models. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland). PDF linkCoyle, P., and Crammond, R. (2026). The entrepreneurial university: evidence and KPIs. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland). PDF linkCoyle, P., and Crammond, R. (2026). Classifying the entrepreneurial university. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland). PDF linkCoyle, P., Crammond, R., and Cunningham, I. (2024). Building entrepreneurial culture in Higher Education. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland, Scotland) and Isobel Cunningham (ATU, Ireland) PDF linkCoyle, P., Crammond, R., Jovanović, M., and Lamas, M. (2022). Educating students about entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Marco Lamas (ISLA Gaia, Portugal), Milica Jovanović (University of Belgrade, Serbia) and Robert Crammond (University of West of Scotland). PDF linkCoyle, P., Cresswell, J., Frick, J., and Wasim, J. (2021). Businesses and universities: creating shared value. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Jo Cresswell (Consultant, England), Jan Frick (University of Stavanger, Norway) and Jay Wasim (Robert Gordon University, Scotland) PDF linkCoyle, P., Fodor, A., Mukhtorov, S., and Price, A. (2021). Entrepreneurial universities - fact or fiction? Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Adina Fodor (Babes-Bolyai University, Romania), Qosim Mukhtorov (Institute of Economy and Trade, Tajikistan) and Alison Price (Enterprise Evolution, England) PDF linkCoyle, P., Friedl, C., Foley, S., and Kikas, M. (2021). Entrepreneurial employees. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Chris Friedl (FH Joanneum, Austria), Susan Foley (Corporate Entrepreneurs, USA) and Mart Kikas (Estonian Business School, Estonia) PDF linkCoyle, P., Friedl, C., Kikas, M. (2022). Intrapreneurship in Higher Education. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Chris Friedl (FH Joanneum, Austria) and Mart Kikas,(Estonian Business School, Estonia) PDF linkCoyle, P., Koppány, E., Jovanović, M., and Premazzi, V. (2022). Entrepreneurial mindset for all academic disciplines. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Enikő Koppány (University of Szeged, Hungary), Milica Jovanović (University of Belgrade, Serbia) and Viviana Premazzi (GMD, Malta) PDF linkCoyle, P., Koppány, E., Outamha, R., and Salihagić, A. (2023). Helping student entrepreneurs to understand the real world. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France), Enikő Koppány (University of Szeged, Hungary), Rabii Outamha (Click Buzz Media, Morocco) and Admir Salihagić (International Burch University, Bosnia & Herzegovina) PDF linkCoyle, P., and Lamas, M. (2024). Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) tool for higher education students. Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. https://shine-project.entrepreneurial-mindset.network
Paul Coyle (Entrepreneurial Mindset Network, France) and Marco Lamas (ISLA Gaia, Portugal). PDF link
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