Course Objectives

The student will:

• Acquire knowledge and understanding that will enable them to carry out innovative work based on his/her ideas and field of interest with an emphasis on developing sound and useful products / services in a sustainable perspective.
• Acquire knowledge of, and be able to use, methods for creativity and idea development.
• Acquire knowledge and develop skills in the establishment, operation and winding up of a student enterprise.
• Acquire knowledge and develop skills in business development and business plan activities.
• Acquire knowledge and skills regarding the formal aspects of running a business, such as, participating in meetings and on a board, as well as activities concerning confidential agreements and formulating applications, etc.
• Acquire knowledge about and relate to branding, patents and design protection.
• Acquire knowledge about and be able to use visual branding and visual and oral presentation skills.
• Acquire knowledge of and be able to use basic accounting and financial skills, an understanding of the market, and business development in their own student enterprise work, such as handling an operating and income statement, a SWOT analysis, a Gantt chart and the requirements of presentation and marketing.
• Be able to establish contacts with mentors and partners outside the school, and cooperate with them to achieve an effective operation of the student enterprise.
• Acquire knowledge of and relate to ethical and environmental issues.

Course Description

This course will provide knowledge and understanding of how to establish and operate a creative business within one’s own area of interest and based on one’s personal ideas. During the academic year, the students, preferably in groups, will establish, develop, operate and wind up student enterprises. The student enterprises may be aimed at the marketing of their own artistic projects or towards the development of products and services within various forms of design. The subject material will include business development, project administration, product development and patent laws, market communications and contractors and society. The student enterprise concept of Ungt Enterprenørskap (Young Enterprise) will be one of several possible approaches to this project.

Learning Methods

The various courses in the study programme have their own target areas and specific content and subject matter related to these. However, the target areas of one course may illuminate the target areas of another. Key topics may be discussed several times using different approaches, and the structure of the studies does not hinder an examination of topics that cross several areas.

Teaching will mainly take place in the classroom and in joint seminars with students from the college’s faculties in Bo and Porsgrunn. Teaching and learning methods are varied and include lectures, demonstrations, courses / seminars, field trips, workshop work, group work, problem solving and guidance and assessment.

The course, Student Enterprise, proceeds continuously throughout the academic year, in order to allow enough time for developing, establishing and winding up the enterprise. The student enterprise work will be based on cooperative efforts in groups. Assignments in other course units may be related to the student enterprise, but will be assessed on an independent basis.

Key areas of the course, including all the teaching and guidance, are mandatory and attendance will be registered. Attendance and participation, and responsibility for an active and creative learning environment, are important factors to ensure student outcomes for the course. There is a requirement of at least 80% attendance for all teaching and guidance.

Assessment Methods

All the assignments and / or course requirements must be completed, submitted on time (as indicated in the semester plan/year plan/period plan), and evaluated as passed in order for the course to be approved, and so that the student can receive final assessment. It is also a requirement that the student has at least 80% attendance of the teaching and counselling sessions that require mandatory attendance and active participation.

Final assessment will be conducted on the basis of 2 portfolio submissions. The first portfolio will be submitted at the end of the first semester, and counts 40% of final grade. The second portfolio will be submitted at the end of the second semester, and counts 60% of final grade. Portfolio requirements will be specified by the course teacher in good time before the submission deadlines.

A final grade will be given on a scale from A to F, where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade.

Please refer to Telemark University College Examination Regulations for more information.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean