Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 创新创业基础

This course is designed for undergraduate students from non-management backgrounds who are interested in understanding the basic ideas, processes, and practices of innovation and entrepreneurship. Through lectures, case discussions, and a semester-long group project, the course introduces how innovative ideas emerge, how entrepreneurial opportunities are identified and evaluated, and how a preliminary business concept can be developed into a structured proposal.

Rather than aiming to train every student to become an entrepreneur, the course seeks to help students build an entrepreneurial mindset, develop a sensitivity to real-world problems and unmet needs, and appreciate the role of innovation in economic and social development. It also provides practical guidance for students who are considering participation in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions.

Course Details

• Course: Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Term: Spring
• Credit: 1
• Level: Undergraduate
• Prerequisites: None
• Department: School of Management

Learning Outcomes

1. Understanding Innovation and Entrepreneurship
   • Develop a foundational understanding of the concepts, forms, and significance of innovation and entrepreneurship in contemporary society.
   • Recognize that entrepreneurship is not limited to starting a company, but also involves problem identification, creative thinking, and value creation.
2. Opportunity Identification and Idea Development
   • Learn how to observe social, technological, and market changes, identify unmet needs, and transform initial ideas into potential entrepreneurial opportunities.
   • Distinguish between a “creative idea” and a “feasible entrepreneurial opportunity.”
3. Basic Business Model Thinking
   • Understand the core elements of a business model, including customer segments, value propositions, revenue logic, key resources, and implementation pathways.
   • Apply these elements to analyze and refine a group entrepreneurial project.
4. Entrepreneurship Competition and Proposal Preparation
   • Become familiar with the logic and common evaluation criteria of innovation and entrepreneurship competitions.
   • Learn the basic structure and writing principles of a business proposal, and practice communicating a project clearly through a group presentation.
5. Teamwork, Communication, and Collaborative Problem Solving
   • Strengthen teamwork, discussion, task coordination, and oral communication skills through an 8-week group project.
   • Develop the ability to integrate diverse perspectives and present ideas in a structured and persuasive manner.

Course Structure

The course will cover the following topics:

1. Understanding Innovation and Entrepreneurship
   • What innovation and entrepreneurship mean
   • Why innovation matters in economic, technological, and social development
   • Typical entrepreneurial paths and common misunderstandings about entrepreneurship
2. Discovering Problems and Identifying Opportunities
   • From daily observations to entrepreneurial opportunities
   • User pain points, unmet needs, and market gaps
   • How to judge whether an idea is worth developing
3. From Ideas to Solutions
   • Value creation and solution design
   • Product, service, and platform-based innovation
   • Refining a preliminary entrepreneurial concept through discussion and feedback
4. Business Model Fundamentals
   • Customer segments, value propositions, channels, revenue sources, and cost logic
   • Introduction to business model thinking and its application to student projects
   • Case-based analysis of successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurial models
5. Market, Competition, and Feasibility
   • Basic market analysis and competitor identification
   • Resource requirements, implementation conditions, and preliminary feasibility assessment
   • Avoiding common weaknesses in student entrepreneurial projects
6. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions
   • Common types of student innovation and entrepreneurship competitions
   • What judges typically look for in a project
   • How to strengthen the logic, distinctiveness, and persuasiveness of a competition-oriented project
7. Business Proposal Writing
   • Core components of a business proposal
   • How to describe problems, solutions, market value, implementation plans, and development prospects
   • Common issues in proposal structure, evidence, and expression
8. Group Presentation and Project Review
   • Final group presentations of entrepreneurial projects
   • Peer learning and instructor feedback
   • Reflection on innovation, entrepreneurship, and teamwork throughout the course

Teaching Delivery

• Lectures: Introducing core concepts, analytical frameworks, and practical principles of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Case Studies: Discussing real-world entrepreneurial projects, competition cases, and emerging innovation practices.
• Group Discussions: Guiding students to continuously develop and refine their entrepreneurial ideas over the 8-week course.
• Project-Based Learning: Supporting each group in completing a final presentation and business proposal.
• Presentation and Feedback: Helping students improve idea communication, teamwork, and project logic through in-class reporting and comments.

Grading

• Attendance and Participation: 30%
• Group Presentation: 30%
• Business Proposal: 40%

Textbook

• Primary Text: Course materials and instructor-provided readings.
• References: Selected cases, competition materials, and introductory readings on innovation, entrepreneurship, and business model design.

This course aims to provide students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds with an accessible yet structured introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship. By combining conceptual learning with a collaborative project, it encourages students to observe problems, explore opportunities, develop preliminary entrepreneurial ideas, and communicate them effectively. The course is especially suitable for students who wish to gain a first understanding of entrepreneurship, prepare for innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, or strengthen their teamwork and practical communication abilities through project-based learning.