Pratt, C., & Cochran Pratt, J. (2010). New Generations of Global Entrepreneurs: Global Citizenship Through Work-Integrated Learning in the New Economy. Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships, 42(2), 1-8.
This paper reports on a unique sustainable international economic development and internship program focused on emerging and challenged economic locations. Working with economic development agencies the program engages international and local university students and local high school pupils in consulting teams to assist owners of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to build global entrepreneurial, enterprise leadership, and citizenship knowledge in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Work-integrated learning is known to offer a variety of important outcomes for students, employers, higher education and society. Common among the benefits to all constituents is that work-integrated learning helps develop mature, productive young people with a greater sense of clarity about both themselves and their role in society. In the rapidly changing globalized world in which young people today will live and work, these are invaluable traits. The program builds skills and capacity, and facilitates short and long-term community and economic development by working together collaboratively on solving real-world business problems stimulating new entrepreneurial activity and initiatives, and creating a more entrepreneurial and economically vibrant culture. Such creative, entrepreneurial approaches to work-integrated learning in entrepreneurship and enterprise leadership education internationally can encourage global citizenship. Educators, employers, and governments should engage in work-integrated learning more entrepreneurially and globally.