INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
Innovation and entrepreneurial skills refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action. It includes creativity, ingenuity and risk-taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives.
SMU-X courses allow students, who are actively mentored by the faculty and industry partners, to develop innovative yet realistic solutions that consider contextual factors and practical constraints to the project challenges.
Why is this important?
In this VUCA world where nothing is a constant, and where staying with a conventional approach will make one obsolete, it is thereby imperative to encourage and promote innovation and entrepreneurial skills for individuals to be able to ‘stand out' and be ground breakers. Such skills set individuals apart in their career endeavours and journeys. Individuals who are innovative and have an entrepreneurial mind-set are naturally able to identify opportunities (and pitfalls) in the market and be creative in recommending new solutions and perspectives.
Tips on how we can cultivate these knowledge and skills
- Encourage open discussions, allowing others the space to grow and think independently
- Embrace and encourage diversity and inclusivity within project teams
- Foster an environment that values challenging ideas – there should be open conversations, where everyone is respectful and open to hearing new ideas
- Have a 'never-say-die' attitude