Free Course For Business On Enterprise

Free Enterprise Skills course at the University of Hull

Your questions answered - Information for people thinking about coming on the course.

This is a unique course in the Humber region. Unlike many other enterprise courses it is not about how to start a business and write a business plan but has been designed to facilitate enterprise skills so as to make you a more enterprising, entrepreneurial, and entrepreneurial person.

Who is the course for and what does it the cover?

  • The course is aimed at anyone who wishes to become more enterprising in life or for work. It facilitates the development of a range of skills which are broadly categorized as being skills for enterprise as identified by the NGCE (the National Council for Graduate Employment).   This includes a wide range of broad skill areas  such as:
  • Initiative taking
  • Opportunity seeking
  • Commitment to see things through
  • Networking with other people at different levels
  • Moderate rather than high-risk taking the ability
  • Strategic thinking
  • Negotiation capacity
  • Selling and persuasion
  • Incremental risk-taking
  • Independence
  • Autonomy
  • Imagination
  • High belief that you are in control of your own destiny
  • Need for achievement
  • Achievement orientation
  • Living with uncertainty and complexity
  • Having work under pressure
  • Building know how and trust relationships
  • Learning by doing, copying, making things up, problem solving
  • Managing interdependencies
  • Belief that rewards come with your own effort
  • Belief that you can make things happen
  • Belief in individual and the community
  • Motivation to succeed
  • Motivation to make a difference
  • Ability to cope with doing something different to others
  • Ability to see problems as opportunities

 

You will note not all of these are ‘skills' as but might be better regarded as being viewpoints, or perspectives or approaches to work and life.  Part of what might be regarded as being an ‘entrepreneurial mindset'. You probably already have some, perhaps all of these to some extent; this course can help you improve and develop them.

How is the course taught?

The course is a short course delivered over six consecutive weeks, one afternoon per week and is facilitated by the course leader Andrew Holmes. It is delivered in a way which allows participants to be actively involved, to engage in group ands individual work, to participate in class based exercises and discussion. There are no formal lectures , you will learn along with other people through active participation, in a practical and stimulating environment.

Do I have to do any work outside of the taught session?

Yes you do. After each taught session you will be set a small amount of work to do. This might include having a go at doing an online test or questionnaire, carrying out some simple research on the Internet, or finding out some information and bringing it back the class to share with others the next week.

Is there any university credit for this course?

Yes there is. If you satisfactorily complete and pass the assessment requirements for the course then you will gain 20 CATS points at level four (first year undergraduate equivalent) as part of the University of Hull's Foundation Award programme delivered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning. If you wish to use the credit you can go on to study other courses over time and accumulate your credits towards a full university qualification.

All there any exams or assessment?

There are no exams but you will participate in an assessment process. The assessment has been designed to see if you have learnt from the course and can use and apply your new knowledge and skills. You will not need to write an essay, but you will need to produce evidence of your learning. This will be explained during the course.

Do I have to have access to the Internet to participate in this course?

You do not have to have your own computer or internet access, but it is advisable. A lot of the work you will need to do outside of the class sessions will require you to look up information online, and to participate in online questionnaires and mini tests. A lot of the resources for this course will be placed on the Internet for you to download. If you do not have access to the Internet then you will be able to use the computer facilities at the University of Hull once you have registered for the course.

 

When is the course taught?

The course runs over six afternoon sessions dates for 2010 are:

  • Wednesdays  3, 10, (17th or 24th) February and  3, 10th or 17th March
    •  course code U09O2MA
    • Held in room LR13 in the Wilberforce building
    • There will be six sessions from 3rd February onwards.

 

  • Wednesdays and Tuesdays  21, 28 April, (Wednesdays) and 5, 11, 18, 25th May (Tuesdays)
    • course code U0O9O3MA
    • Held in LR9 Wilberforce building on 21 & 28 April and 5 and 11 May and then TR2 in the Brynmor Jones Library on 18 & 25 May

 

Each of the above is the same course i.e. there is one Enterprise Skills course which is running four times. All courses are held on the University of Hull campus on Cottingham road. Courses run from 1:15 until approximately 4:30.

 

Do I need to attend each session?

 

Yes you do.  Demand for this course likely to be very high so at the moment we are only accepting people who are able to attend all six consecutive sessions.

 

I cannot come to the university to attend a course, is there any other way of studying it?

 

We have an alternative course which is about enterprise and entrepreneurship. This is taught through the Internet via a virtual learning environment with no actual face-to-face teaching. This course is more focused on the enterprise and entrepreneurial knowledge required for business start up, rather than enterprise skills.

 

Do I have to have any existing qualifications to participate in this course?

 

No, the course is open access, there is no requirement for you to have any existing qualifications, just an open mind and, above all, a willingness and enthusiasm to learn.

 

Why is the course free?

 

The government has provided some funding for universities to provide learning opportunities for people who may be threatened with redundancy, or facing unemployment due to the worldwide recession and the global economic downturn. This is called the Economic Challenge Investment Fund. In the current financial climate with many people not knowing whether they have long-term job security this effectively means that almost anyone is eligible for a free place.

I am already a student, can I join this course?

If you are a full time student, then no. If you are a part time student, yes.

 

Is there any other financial assistance available?

Not to participate in this course no, but if you are serious about setting up your own business after the course then you may find that there is financial assistance available from a number of external organizations.

Is there a minimum age requirement?

You have to be 18 years or over to participate in this course, there is no maximum age limit for participants. We anticipate that the course will attract people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages.

What if I want to come on the course but I am not at all sure about a becoming self-employed?

There's no requirement for you to have to either want to become self-employed or to currently be self-employed. Self-employment is just one of the many possible opportunities you may want to explore after participating in the course.  If you are seriously interested in setting up your business after participating in the course then you will be given help and support from the University's Enterprise Centre. 

Who is teaching the course?

Andrew Holmes, a lecturer at the University of Hull in the Centre for Lifelong Learning. Andrew is an experienced educator and classroom facilitator and is currently participating in the NGCE's International Enterprise Educators Programme himself.

How do I register for the course?

You will need to complete a UFA registration form with your own details and the course title and code.

If you are unable to call I in person with completed your form then please return it by post to A Holmes, University of Hull.  FREEPOST (HU588), Hull,   HU6 7BR

After that you will be sent a confirmation letter telling you that you have a place on the course.

Any other questions?

E-mail Andrew Holmes A.G.Holmes@hull.ac.uk

 


21, Jan, 2010