The role of entrepreneurship clubs and societies in entrepreneurial learning

This article focuses on the role of student entrepreneurship clubs and societies. It explores their impact on student learning in order to understand the extent to which such activities simulate entrepreneurial learning. The article reports three studies conducted between 2006— 2007, which explored three different forms of clubs: entrepreneurship clubs; SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) teams; and investment clubs. Data from 10 unstructured interviews, a series of telephone interviews and an e-mail postcard are reported. The results show that students’ motivations for engaging in clubs vary and that they differ between different types of clubs. In terms of entrepreneurial learning students’ engagement in clubs and societies provides enhanced opportunities for ‘learning by doing’ through action and experience. The data show that increased action leads to reflective practice and that social learning is important. The article highlights the capacity of entrepreneurship education to simulate entrepreneurial learning, illustrating the value of entrepreneurship clubs and societies and explaining why students engage in them.