Emergent Thinkers™

I am enthused to share that my research paper with Professor Emeritus Andy Penaluna and Professor Kathryn Penaluna, “An Entrepreneurial Education Pipeline: Lessons from Schoolteacher Training in Wales” has been awarded Best Paper in the Enterprise Education Track at ISBE 2024. The Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) is a leading network bringing together hundreds of UK and international researchers, policymakers and practitioners at the frontline of entrepreneurship research and practice. Their 46th annual conference, this year in Sheffield, focused on the theme “Entrepreneurship research, policy and practice for a more equitable world.” To receive this honour, especially given the exceptional calibre of the other finalists, was truly humbling.

At ISBE, Andy and I were privileged to present our 3-phased research to a packed room in Sheffield’s historic Cutlers’ Hall, as well as receive the coveted award during a spectacular gala ceremony alongside highly respected peers in the stunning Sheffield Cathedral. Standing beneath the Cathedral’s soaring Gothic arches and stunning stained-glass windows, with evening light filling the medieval space, made for an unforgettable moment of celebration, which I will bank forever.

Our research, developed in partnership with the National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL) and Careers Wales funded by Welsh Government, captures the voices and experiences of dedicated teachers and leaders who are bringing to life Graham Donaldson’s Curriculum for Wales’s visionary Four Purposes, particularly developing ‘Creative Enterprising Contributors’. The enthusiasm and commitment of Welsh educators have turned policy into practice, creating innovative approaches to entrepreneurial learning that are already showing results. As part of presentation on the full paper we were able to highlight the effectiveness of forced divergent thinking models in supporting creativity across disciplines, and demonstrated how exposure to the EU’s EntreComp Framework helps teachers understand and support learner progression.

Through detailed analysis of teacher training initiatives across Wales, we discovered that understanding how different types of thinking affect learning was transformative for teachers. Workshops introduced the distinction between analytical thinking (convergent/seeking correct answers) and creative thinking (divergent/generating new possibilities). When teachers experienced this through practical exercises using Andy’s ‘Morphology’ model – they saw immediate applications for mapping and assessing creativity across different subjects. This insight, combined with the EntreComp Framework, helped teachers understand and support authentic

But what made this recognition particularly personally meaningful is how it’s already catalysing positive change in my local community. I’m thrilled to announce that my cluster schools are taking their training forward and into action through an exciting new initiative – “Harmonious Heroes: Building a Better Future for Llanelli. This pioneer project brings together St. John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School with their feeder primaries – St. Mary’s Catholic Primary Llanelli and Carmarthen, Pentip Church in Wales VA Primary, and Swiss Valley Primary. Using the EntreComp framework, these schools will empower students to develop vital entrepreneurial competences while making meaningful contributions to their community. The initiative creates opportunities for young people to engage with real local challenges through creative, ethical and sustainable approaches to enterprise, infused with the values that I promote with Professor David A Kirby with harmonious entrepreneurship. Students will work on projects that tackle real local challenges, with opportunities to showcase their work at an end-of-academic-year Town Event, ensuring their entrepreneurial learning has authentic community impact.

On behalf of Andy and Kath, I extend heartfelt thanks to the NAEL Cymru, especially Richard Edwards, and Careers Wales for their visionary support, and to all the school leaders, teachers, and partners who have engaged across Wales. This ISBE recognition isn’t just an endpoint – it’s a springboard for the next phase of this important work.

The warmth and collegiality of the ISBE community, masterfully coordinated by ISBE’s phenomenal Lynn O’Byrne, made sharing this work even more meaningful. The conference brought together remarkable scholars and practitioners including Bangor University’s Dr Beth Edwards, Dr Catherine Brentnall’s fascinating work on ‘Hopepunk’ and Entrepreneurship Education with Serxia Lage-Arias, Dr Trudie Murray’s insights into early years entrepreneurial education in Ireland (with Breda Kenny, Helen McGuirk, Thomas Cooney), and important discussions about inclusive entrepreneurship and neurodiversity led by Rob Edwards and Dr Lorna Treanor. The presence and contributions of inspiring colleagues like, Assoc Prof Dr Kelly Smith, Dinah Bennett, Professor Emily Beaumont, Dr Doyin Olorunfemi, Dr Vicky Nowak, Dr Marian Evans, Emma Neale, Professor Joan Lockyer and University of York’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Kiran Trehan – among many so others – created an atmosphere of genuine collaboration and shared purpose. That this spontaneous reflection on so many conversations has surfaced so many leading women in the field speaks volumes about ISBE’s commitment to inclusion and equity in entrepreneurship research and practice, while equally celebrating the vital contributions of all scholars working toward these shared goals.

The conference also provided a platform to share my research with Professor David A Kirby on “Welsh Harmonious SMEs” where we demonstrated how Welsh enterprises are proving that business success and reducing societal inequalities can work in harmony, rather than in opposition. Drawing on examples from ethical fashion, survivor support, and cultural integration initiatives, I was able to share how local businesses are creating sustainable value while advancing both UN Sustainable Development Goals and Wales’s Well-being Goals.

To all those who have supported this journey so far, “Diolch yn fawr”.

ISBE 2024 BEST PAPER AWARD WINNERS – ISBE

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