Competency-Based Entrepreneurship Education

New ways of thinking help us improve quality of our offerings, reduce costs through greater efficiencies, enhance experiences, and achieve better population-level outcomes. It is no surprise that the interest in new value creation through innovation and entrepreneurship is ever-growing. Despite the high amount of interest, literature shows that there are few educational offerings in this space. How might educators, clinically trained health professionals, and researchers become better-equipped to advance their innovative ideas and projects? 

The Health Ventures Program is the only fully online milestone-based coaching program that provides individuals with innovation focused training. Upon completion of the 14-week experience, learners demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of innovation concepts and business frameworks. The program objectives are two-fold: to assess the impact potential (i.e. desirability, viability and feasibility) of innovative ideas or projects and to validate an evolving set of project parameters to ensure future success. Upon completion of the program, individuals have a strategy for creating scalable socioeconomic impact and pitch their work to representatives of the local innovation community. Over 100 individuals (local and international) have completed the Health Ventures Program since January 2019, with 10.5% building start-up ventures or launching initiatives after program completion. The Health Ventures Program demonstrates the potential of a competency-based entrepreneurship education model that combines milestones, activities and coaching.