Theory-Based Design of an Entrepreneurship Microcredentialing and Modularization System Within a Large University Ecosystem

Abstract

The theoretical design framework and implementation of the Entrepreneurship Microcredentialing and Modularization System at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, is described, one of the largest programs in the world with 75 different entrepreneurship courses, 10 on-campus incubators, several masters degrees, undergraduate degrees, majors, minors, and cocurricular levels of credentialing. Over 6,500 students per year receive an entrepreneurship course credit and over 2,000 of these accumulate microcredentials to achieve this course credit.

To reduce the likelihood that students merely accumulate random modules and microcredentials, it is critical to use an integrating framework so that these modules build toward a greater integrated whole (i.e., a curriculum). This article describes how a Microcredentialing and Modularization System is currently used in six courses which build toward different credentials and program learning outcome measurements for accreditation purposes. University resources and integrating mechanisms are described as well as lessons learned during implementation. The primary theoretical contribution of this article is to extend the theoretical framework used for accredited program-level design for small cohorts of entrepreneurship students into a university-level ecosystem design. The primary practical contribution of this article is a detailed case study description of one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive university entrepreneurship ecosystems.