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TAMK University of Applied Sciences

ProAcademy Coach of Creativity

and Entrepreneurship

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What is ProAcademy? •  A degree program for

entrepreneurship of the Business School of TAMK University of Applied Sciences

•  Founded on the 6th of September, 1999 -> 10 years in 2009!

•  An innovative way of studying and learning entrepreneurship

•  Instead of teachers we have coaches

•  Instead of classes we have offices

We have fun together! We have the right attitude!

We have fresh ideas!

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Learning philosophy •  Primary elements are learning by doing and

team learning - no teaching but creating a need to learn

•  Learning takes place in real life with real people and real businesses in real company the cooperative

• Model is based on the Team Academy unit from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences by Johannes Partanen

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Key strengths of the model •  2,5 years of intensive work experience

“built-in” –  excellent communication skills –  business thinking becomes natural –  professional level of service –  possibility to create one’s dream job

•  Strong intrinsic motivation •  Continuous reflection of personal goals •  Capability to take responsibility and act •  Studying and working is a daily experience

to be enjoyed!

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Core competences Business knowledge •  concept and product

innovation •  sales and marketing •  contracts •  finances •  customer-centred thinking

Team and organization •  teamwork and community •  leadership •  project management •  crisis control •  motivation

Personal skills •  self leadership •  will and ability to learn •  applied knowledge •  pressure handling •  change and development •  networking skills

Communication skills •  written and oral communication •  presentation skills •  negotiations •  meeting practices •  international skills

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Co-operatives •  Flat organization, inexpensive, low risk •  Students are financially responsible for their

own companies •  Total turnover approx. 200 000 € / year

–  Revenues used for salaries, events, seminars, graduation trip, etc.

•  After graduatation co-ops usually turn into limited (Ltd.) companies

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Current teams/co-ops

Menguru

Seepramedia

Ideareaktori

+ two new teams in Spring 2008

ProAcademy in Numbers

•  Eight graduated teams •  Entrepreneur rate of

graduated 20 % (under 5 % in traditional programs)

•  Employment rate almost 100 % •  Each company makes at least 50 projects

a year •  40-85 students study at ProAcademy

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Distribution of learning methods

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Tools of learning •  Basic studies •  Team meetings •  Learning cells and workshops •  Innovation sessions •  Literature and essays

–  over 900 recommended books by Johannes Partanen

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Tools of learning •  Seminars •  Projects (approx. 1000 hours)‏ •  24 h innovation exam

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Team meetings

•  Core part of the model! •  Place for informal discussion and dialog

–  Development of the student businesses –  Academic and personal growth of the students

in the team –  Feedback on projects or performance –  Reflection on learning –  Sharing feelings, experiences and knowledge

etc.

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24 h innovation – final exam

•  2 months before graduation •  Customer and project unknown until

opening ceremony •  24 hours to complete project until

presentation • Graded 0-5 •  Customer pays project team per grade:

0 = - 300 € … 5 = 1200 €

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Tools of learning •  Camping trips with

team •  Cruise seminars •  ProAcademy-day •  Initiation, birthday,

christmas party and spring festival

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Example projects •  Seminars and events

–  360º Leadership seminar –  Visio–event: seminar and contest of ideas –  Pilke: charity event for the disabled –  AvoInfuture: education exhibition organized

every second year –  Tampere Art Factory 2008

•  Business research •  Lots of contracted

sales projects 16

Example projects •  Graphic design and implementation of

websites, prints and CD-ROMs –  Launching Student entrepreneur –competition –  Huipputyyppi –magazine: twice a year

•  Consulting and training –  Self Management –training for students in

polytechnic

•  Promotions –  Subscriber connections for 3G-mobile

phones, PepsiMax, ice-hockey team Tappara etc.

•  Import business

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Our vision

ProAcademy is internationally active center of learning and multi-disciplinary team

entrepreneurship 6.9.2010.

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• Learning –  We learn by doing. We search and share

knowledge. We allow mistakes because that’s how we learn best.

• Enjoyment –  Creative ideas are born from positive energy.

We rejoice on everyone’s success. Together we have more fun.

Our values

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Our values • Responsibility and power of many

–  Everyone at ProAcademy is responsible for themselves, learning and community. Diversity is our strength. Together we achieve more. We face challenges together. Everyone deserves their place in the team each day. We strive towards team entrepreneurship.

• Expedition –  We experiment bravery which allows us to

grow and evolve. We dare to dream and face the world. We expand our view of the world by our experiences. We are on a journey to become entrepreneurs. 20

What does the coach do? •  Challenges – Student’s own motivation and

learning objectives as a starting point. •  Believes – Coach believes more in the

student than him/herself. •  Guides process, gives tools – Helps teams

and individuals to learn and develop new. •  Leads – Coach focuses in the values,

attitudes, behavioral models and end results.

•  Demands – Concentrates on breakthroughs and strengths, excepts goal-oriented behavior and demands more.

•  Is present and available.

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Coaching styles

Giving direct advice

Giving instructions

Giving hints (own ideas)‏

Giving feedback

Offering alternatives

Asking questions

Summarizing

Reviewing

Reflection

Listening Pulling “Coaching”

Non-Directive

Pushing “Teaching” Directive

Coac

hing

style

Most of coaching takes place here

Downey: Effective Coaching. 22

Working zones

Stress zone

Stretching zone

Comfort zone

”Dead zone”

Flow takes place here

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Our new focus: Voimala •  Voimala (‘Powerplant’) -project started last Fall •  Voimala is aiming to renew the education system

to promote entrepreneurship and to establish new practices in the Pirkanmaa county educational units.

•  Clients in the project are vocational schools, polytechnics and academic and applied science universities (teachers and students). –  Young students from high schools and vocational schools work in the same

facilities with the students from ProAcademy at TAMK University of Applied Sciences.

–  ProAcademy’s young entrepreneurs work as coaches in the training sessions.

•  Project is funded by Creative Tampere –programme and TAMK R&D.

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Voimala •  Surpasses educational system levels and

fields of study. •  Is encouraging

–  Coaching creates positive views and experiences about entrepreneurship.

–  Students can walk on the ”path to entrepreneurship” which begins in vocational schools and high schools and continues as an entrepreneur and/or entrepreneurship studies in universities and UASs.

–  Voimala helps students to see entrepreneurship as an option to employment.

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What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

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Thank you!

Contact Information

Jukka Siltanen, Coach, M.Sc. jukka.siltanen@tamk.fi

ProAkatemia TAMK University of Applied Sciences

Finlaysoninkuja 5 33210 TAMPERE

FINLAND

www.proakatemia.fi