Pattern for Graduate Student Company Life Cycle

Graduate Student Company (GSC) is an innovative educational model to teach entrepreneurship competencies based on the learning-by-doing methodology. It represents the formation of a studentoperated mini-company which functions like a limited company, and the members buy shares in the company though personal contributions. During the process of learning, the students understand the opportunities of how to start and run a company and go through the whole company life cycle from establishment to closure. Our approach involves review and observation of European and global practices in the field of entrepreneurship education; practical implementation of the Junior Achievement –Young Enterprise (JA-YE) methodology for the Graduate Student Company. The main findings represent the experience and best practice of the Junior Achievement -Sofia University partnership and propose a model for future implementation in both engineering and scientific faculties. Learning-by-doing methodology is a key success factor for teaching entrepreneurship. Patterns are seen as a good repeatable practice to encourage involvement and mentorship on part of the business community and improve the learning environment and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The target audience are developers of curricula, teachers and business angels. The GSC pattern is expanded and implemented in 10 more universities in Bulgaria during 2008-2009 academic years.