STILLWATER, Okla. - A special version of OSU’s Experiential Classroom was presented to 22 Russian university faculty members and administrators at the Moscow Academy for Industry and Finance in April 2009.

This customized three-day seminar was sponsored by the U.S.-Russia Center for Entrepreneurship and presented by the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University in collaboration with Syracuse University and the Beyster Institute at the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management.

The participants represented the top institutions of higher learning throughout Russia and included professors as well as department heads, deans and directors. The seminar was presented by Mike Morris of OSU and Minet Schindehutte of Syracuse University with Ray Smilor of the Beyster Institute.

Participants were introduced to leading methods for teaching entrepreneurship; new perspectives on the core content of entrepreneurship; approaches for building a great entrepreneurship program; and novel approaches to experiential teaching and learning. In addition, each participant selected an entrepreneurship course to implement when they returned home, and the presenting faculty worked with them in structuring that course.

Roughly half of the participants had entrepreneurship courses already in place, and others have planned to offer courses. Feedback was very positive, and participants said they especially appreciated the hands-on approach of the seminar.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. The OSU Department of Entrepreneurship is housed in the Spears School of Business and provides advanced, educationally based competencies in entrepreneurship through courses offered for students with majors, minors, MBA concentrations or doctoral studies in entrepreneurship. In addition, the department conducts research that informs entrepreneurial practice. It organizes national programs on best practices in the entrepreneurship classroom and in curriculum development. For more information, call 405-744-3325 or visit entrepreneurship.okstate.edu.

Going into its eleventh year, the Experiential Classroom will be held on the OSU facilities in Stillwater and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Michael Morris, Clinic Director, explains "This new location is more centrally located for faculty from around the United States, making it easier for many to attend. It offers access to a number of resources previously unavailable, and allows us to take the Experiential Classroom in some exciting new directions.  We remain committed to sharing the truly best practices in the Entrepreneurship classroom, and delivering a world class program. With this new location, we can continue to raise the bar."

Dates for 2010

Experiential Classroom X will be held September 23- September 26, 2010, at the Oklahoma State University’s Facilities in Tulsa and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The program begins on  Thursday, September 23 and ends at noon on Sunday, September 26. Delegates must attend the entire event.

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Contact

If you'd like to receive information about this program, please email your name, mailing address, and college/university to  Dr. Morris’ email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 405.744.5357.

A unique feature of the Experiential Classroom in 2008 was the addition of the Beyster Scholars, a program to encourage entrepreneurship educators to teach tools and techniques that facilitate employee ownership in entrepreneurial ventures.  The Beyster Institute is co-sponsor of the annual Experiential Classroom, and is a leading advocate of employee ownership schemes. Four Beyster Scholars were picked from a number of applicants, and they included Dr. Natasa Christodoulidou, Ph.D., a marketing professor from California State University Dominguez Hills, Dr. Jim Ondracek, Ph.D., a professor of business administration at Minot State University, Dr. Frank Ridzi, a sociology professor at Le Moyne College, and Robert Stachen, a law professor at the Western New England College. These individuals will spend the next twelve months working on ways to integrate modules and materials related to employee ownership into their entrepreneurship classes.  Each will receive $1000 to support their efforts.

The Foundation for Enterprise Development (FED) has committed $10,000 is two grants to support the ongoing delivery of the Experiential Classroom. Based in LaJolla, California, and inspired by the amazing example provided by entrepreneur Bob Beyster when he created the SAIC corporation, FED is committed to employment ownership in companies.

They are especially interested in helping entrepreneurs learn how to implement employee ownership schemes within their ventures. With years of expertise, FED has identified a number of different types of employee ownership approaches that can be tailored to different firms.  As part of their partnership with the Experiential Classroom, FED has worked with entrepreneurship faculty to develop modules on employee ownership that can be dropped into entrepreneurship courses. These include teaching materials, case examples, and exercises.  Tony Mathews from the Foundation for Enterprise Development also speaks annually at the Experiential Classroom.