Cases on Experiential Learning in Higher Education for Economic Innovation and Growth

In a world defined by rapid economic shifts and technological disruption, the ability to adapt and learn continuously has become a defining advantage. Lifelong learning is no longer optional-it is essential for individuals seeking to remain relevant and effective in an ever-changing landscape. For students, educators, and business practitioners alike, cultivating this mindset enables meaningful contributions to innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. Preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and insight to navigate complexity and drive progress is therefore critical to shaping a more stable and forward-looking global economy. Cases on Experiential Learning in Higher Education for Economic Innovation and Growth explores how learners engage with diverse business models that promote economic and social stability alongside sustainable growth. This book highlights the growing importance of corporate social responsibility, demonstrating how businesses can create meaningful social impact in response to rising consumer expectations for accountability and sustainability. Covering topics such as community-based economic models, coaching innovation, and experiential learning environments, this book is an excellent academic resource for graduate and doctoral students, instructors, curriculum designers, academic leaders, entrepreneurs, business practitioners, and more.

Jonathan D Owens is a Senior Lecturer and the Young Enterprise and Placement Lead at the University of Salford Business School, where he integrates entrepreneurial learning into the curriculum through the Young Enterprise Start-Up Programme. With over 30 years of experience in service operations, supply chain management, and enterprise, he enables students to develop entrepreneurial skills by setting up and managing their own companies. His initiatives emphasise teamwork, decision-making, and business strategy, enhancing employability and real-world readiness. Jonathan's contributions have shaped award-winning programs and fostered student success on national and European levels, aligning with the strategic goals of higher education, being awarded a Young Enterprise ambassador in 2021 and 2025.

Gabrielle Round , BA (Hons), MSc, PGCAP, FHEA, PhD is a Lecturer in Enterprise and Sustainability at the University of Salford where she supports students in launching their own businesses, working closely with internal investors, growth hubs, and charities. Gabi completed her PhD at Leeds Beckett University, supported by the #WECAN network, focusing on solutions for gender disparity in SME succession processes in 2025. Gabi’s research interests span business topics with a feminist lens, emphasising gender equity. Passionate about environmental issues and animal rights, Gabi has added veganism, and eco-feminism to her research areas in recent years and plans to continue this trajectory.

Neil Greenley has helped pioneer experiential learning initiatives at the Hertfordshire Business School (HBS), where he collaborates with Young Enterprise to provide unique, hands-on business experiences for international MBA students. This partnership bridges academic theory and real-world practical application within a diverse, cross-cultural framework, enhancing employability and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation skills. Dr Greenley's approach is rooted in experiential and active learning, advancing students' global business perspectives and offering a progressive model for embedding experiential learning within higher education. His work aligns to promote teaching excellence and meaningful student engagement.

Caroline Hands is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, where she serves as Employability Lead and Admissions Tutor. With a strong foundation in psychology, Caroline’s teaching and research focus on enhancing student wellbeing, employability, and career development. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she has extensive experience in educational research, data analysis, and academic advising. Caroline’s current research explores student transitions and well-being, aiming to improve outcomes in higher education. Her dedication to supporting students' personal and professional growth aligns with her commitment to impactful and student-centred teaching.

David W. Taylor is a Principal Lecturer who has championed enterprise education for 25 years. An Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, David is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial and sustainability mindsets. His interests span topics such as owner-manager networks, green entrepreneurship, and enterprise education. David has contributed to the influential book Making Ecopreneurs: Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurship (2005, 2010), presenting frameworks for understanding green start-ups and developed and tested a typology of green entrepreneurs. In 2020, he won the Green Gowns Award for Enterprise for the submission ‘How entrepreneurship and sustainability combine to form the DNA of successful start-up businesses’ based on YE. David has supported 580 YE student start-ups with over 3000 students across UG and PG provision, 55% first-generation. David has delivered numerous entrepreneurship workshops across India in support of international recruitment.