The role of entrepreneurship as an engineering competence in a global information society

In this paper, the authors review the current need to develop high technology entrepreneurship as an essential engineering competence within the context of a global information society. In depth consideration is given to how best to establish and develop this important global-based competence at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. While it is argued that competence in global entrepreneurship should be best established at the postgraduate level, it is equally agreed that undergraduate studies should at least be introduced to establish an understanding of the value of developing an engineering entrepreneurship competence against a rapidly developing and changing global operational environment. The authors discuss the composition of engineering entrepreneurship within the context of operation within a global information society. It is concluded that this competence offers an essential mindset change through it being approached as transformational learning; it is also concluded that tacit knowledge has a major role to play in the success of developing this competence.