On Wednesday, May 27, Keio University held a forum on entrepreneurship education and support with Julie Devonshire, director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at King's College London (KCL), one of the international partner institutions participating in Keio's J-PEAKS initiative. Representing Keio were Project Professor Nobuaki Shindo, managing director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE), along with staff members from the OIE's Strategy and Planning Section, as well as faculty and administrative staff from the Keio Global Research Institute (KGRI) and the Global Engagement Office (GEO).
Through J-PEAKS, Keio aims to further strengthen its research capabilities and promote international expansion by working closer with KCL and leveraging the framework of support for comprehensive research support. As one of the UK's leading research universities, KCL places a strong emphasis on social impact, supporting researchers from the early stages of projects through the real-world implementation of their work and their development as entrepreneurs.
At the beginning of the session, Devonshire introduced KCL's initiatives for supporting startups and cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets, providing in-depth explanations on: (1) year-long startup accelerator programs that emphasize iterative learning and practice to build skills in pitching, fundraising, and customer acquisition; (2) spinout support aimed at the real-world implementation and commercialization of research outcomes; and (3) investor engagement activities that connect entrepreneurs with investor networks through events and matching opportunities to facilitate fundraising. Regarding the entrepreneurial mindset, she explained that KCL has established a seven-skill model of essential competencies not only for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for all students, faculty, and staff in their respective careers.
Following the presentation, participants engaged in a multifaceted discussion on topics including the overview and target audiences of entrepreneurship courses, entrepreneurial mindsets for faculty and staff, and educational strategies.
At KCL, entrepreneurship education programs are primarily operated by a team of 12 Business School faculty members who specialize in entrepreneurship. In addition to formal curricular courses, their Entrepreneurship Institute also offers extracurricular workshop-style learning programs on topics such as pitching and presentation techniques, as well as how to respond effectively in interviews. Extracurricular activities include pitch events, idea competitions, social media-based networking opportunities, and programs focused on learning how to work effectively in teams. Taking advantage of its central London location, KCL also organizes visits to coworking spaces and meetings with investors.
While the primary target students for entrepreneurship education at Keio are undergraduates, KCL focuses more on graduate students, particularly those aiming to launch a startup of their own or advance in their career. Furthermore, KCL conducts annual surveys on entrepreneurship awareness among faculty and staff, especially early-career researchers, and helps them connect with investor networks. Faculty and staff are also able to participate in pitch events alongside students. In addition, KCL offers staff training courses tailored to different departments and roles, covering areas such as improving problem-solving skills, generating ideas, and making effective pitches to help participants develop a more entrepreneurial mindset.
KCL's investor network continues to expand. The university maintains a policy of supporting alumni regardless of how many years have passed since graduation, and alumni themselves actively participate in the investor network through funding support, knowledge sharing, and fundraising activities.
This forum provided an opportunity for participants to learn about best practices in entrepreneurship education at one of the UK's leading universities. Keio University will continue to strive for excellence in its own entrepreneurship education initiatives by drawing on these insights moving forward.