CityU Education Platform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Introduction to PIPE (3333) syllabus TM © for Innovation and entrepreneurship education

For universities and enterprises, innovative and entrepreneurial training and education are facing four basic questions, why to teach, what to teach, how to teach and who will teach. Dr. Hongyi SUN has thought, researched and practiced these four questions for many years, thus he summed up a set of “3-3-3-3” curriculum and 7P teaching method in innovation and entrepreneurship education. “Please refer to Table I for more details. “Three creations” refers to the whole process from creativity to innovation and then to entrepreneurship.
The curriculum clearly defines the linkages and differences between the three steps of creation. Then it further clarifies the steps related to the teaching contents of “three New” , "three Motivation" and “three Actions”. “Three New” are new idea, new product and new business; “three Motivation” are thinking, participation and market research; “three Actions” are problem finding, problem solving and cooperation. In order to effectively implement this curriculum, Sun has developed a 7P teaching method to promote student active learning and improve their overall quality based on “Theory of Planned Behavior”.
The curriculum and teaching methods have been applied to the innovative entrepreneurship courses of City University of Hong Kong. After years of practice, it is proved that the 3-3-3-3 curriculum and 7P teaching method are complete, unique, easy to operate and easy to promote. They are suitable for tertiary education to conduct bilingual corporate training and tutor training. They are also beneficial to participants of innovative research and entrepreneurship education.
The curriculum and teaching methods have been introduced in dozens of seminars and universities. Most are responded enthusiastically and further invitations of collaborations are received. With the support and encouragement of China Association of Higher Education, the curriculum and teaching methods have been presented in international conferences and journals, and won awards of innovation and entrepreneurship education and research.

Table I: 3-3-3-3 syllabus of innovation and entrepreneurship education

Syllabus Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Abbreviation
Disciplines Creativity Innovation Entrepreneurship Three Creations
Outcome New Idea New Product New Enterprise Three New
Teaching, Learning
& Assessment (TLA)
Brain storming
(Thinking)
Hands-on
(Participation)
Moving Feet
(Go out)
Three Motivation
Assessment Original
Compelling
Technically feasible,
Novel design
Marketable,
Profitable
Multi-criteria
Ability Problem finding Problem solving Cooperation Three Actions
Project stages Project 1
Find and think about problem
Project 2
New product description
Project 2
Market research
Comprehensive assessment
Business plan