The Lucky Country by Donald Horne, which came out in 1964, has gone on to become a cult classic, as well as trademarking Australia with a nickname. However, Professor Iann Chubb believes we need a change of titles, shifting from the infamous “lucky country” to being recognised as the “entrepreneurial country”.
Professor Chubb, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award, is a researcher, university leader, influential policymaker and a powerful advocate to government and the Australian public. This week, he has bought Australia’s entrepreneur problems to light in a report titled, Boosting High-Impact Entrepreneurship in Australia. In the report he notes that the entrepreneurship activities in most Australian universities are lacking in maturity by global standards. As a response, the report suggested that incentives linked to funding would encourage universities to recognise academic staff for engagement in student entrepreneurship activities.
In addition, the report reveals that few universities have frameworks to support entrepreneurial students in place in Australia, whilst it is a very popular model overseas. In Australia, if staff are engaged with student entrepreneurship, it is generally unfunded and considered ‘labour of love’. However, in the United Kingdom, universities are assessed on not only the quality of their research, but also the impact this has on students and the economy. The report suggests applying a mix of programs in universities. It says entrepreneurs with track records should be recruited as role models and guest lecturers. Classroom-based learning should be supported with experiential programs such as incubators, accelerators, internships and overseas placements.
As can be seen from the above, Chubb believes that entrepreneurism needs to be taught at all levels of educations – in schools, universities, and throughout an individual’s working life. In the report’s foreword he writes that entrepreneurship, “is inseparable from education — not independent of it…we need to shift our mindsets from a willingness to muddle along to a determination to make our luck.” What do you think, can entrepreneurism be taught and will this change Australia’s reputation to being more innovative?


