Integrating Entrepreneurial Activities in Chemical Engineering Education: A Case Study on Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management is considered to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world because of the environmental and health considerations, limitations on mining operations, product costs, increasing demands on the new materials, products and supply chains. Also, entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical aspect of engineering education with various disciplines worldwide. The objective of this work is to share the recent educational experience that integrates entrepreneurship into one course of the Degree in Chemical Engineering of the University of Granada and how the entrepreneurial activities develop an entrepreneurial mindset in chemical engineering students. The paper contains some strategies for internalising entrepreneurial spirit. The originality is mainly due to the coupling of waste management and entrepreneurship learning for increasing entrepreneurial skills in chemical engineers specifically. The study was carried out among chemical engineering students who participated in the 'Solid and Gaseous Waste Treatment' optional course. Mainly, a qualitative research method was adopted. The primary data for the evaluation of entrepreneurial activities were collected with validated questionnaires distributed to students. The results of this study indicated that the entrepreneurial activities contributed to the introduction of entrepreneurial skills in students. Pre/post testing to determine changes in entrepreneurial mindset was also analysed.