Entrepreneurship Studies Programme code: W5-S1PB19.2024

The aim of Bachelor's degree course is to prepare the graduate to run his or her own business or take up a job in a position related to the management and organization of an enterprise. The study profile is intended to ensure that every aspect of starting and running a business and knowledge of the company's structure will take into account both the legal and economic context and will be embedded in practice to the greatest extent possible. This assumption is reflected in the proposed study program, the axis of which is the life cycle of an enterprise, starting from its creation and commencement of business activity, through the functioning of entrepreneurs in trade and the entrepreneur's responsibility, to - finally - liquidation and termination of business activity. Due to the fact that each stage in the enterprise life cycle is associated with the need to master specific knowledge and specific skills, the selection and sequence of modules in the field of entrepreneurship in subsequent semesters have been carefully considered. The introductory issues (first semester) in first-cycle studies are therefore microeconomics and the basics of marketing, management and entrepreneurship, as well as IT in management and the basics of civil law. Discussion of content related to the creation of business entities and starting a business will begin in the second semester; the context here will be issues in the field of strategic management and operational, basics of descriptive statistics, basics of law and administrative proceedings, business psychology and content related to digitalization and personal development. The following semesters - III and IV - assume concentration on related issues with the financing of business activities and the functioning of entities in economic transactions; therefore, they will be accompanied (in the field of legal sciences) by the basics of: labor law and social security, tax law, investing in domestic and foreign markets, EU law; Attention will also be devoted to the practical aspects of creating contracts in business transactions and the civil liability of the entrepreneur, and then - of managers and partners. In the field of economic sciences, this context will be complemented by the basics of: accounting and logistics, human resources management, e-Entrepreneurship and business models and strategies. Specialist education at this stage will also be complemented by developing critical thinking skills. In the fifth semester, the program will focus on the control and then - liquidation and bankruptcy of the entrepreneur; this content will be accompanied by issues related to business taxation, risk management, marketing and market research, and intellectual property in business activities. During the last sixth semester, the student's work will be devoted primarily to the implementation of professional practice and the preparation of a diploma thesis or bachelor's project. As part of their studies, students will also complete 720 hours of student internships, which will enable them to gain experience in business practice. In the modified study program, internships will be carried out starting from the 4th semester (180 hours), with accumulation in the 6th semester (360 hours).

The condition for admission to the diploma examination is to achieve the learning outcomes provided for in the study program, to obtain a certificate of an appropriate level of language proficiency in a foreign language and to obtain positive grades for the diploma dissertation. The condition for graduation is to pass the diploma examination with at least a satisfactory result. A graduate receives a higher education diploma confirming obtaining the qualifications of the appropriate degree. Detailed rules of the diploma process and the requirements for the diploma thesis are set out in the Rules and Regulations of Studies at the University of Silesia and the diploma regulations.

Internships are an integral part of the study program, carried out by students in individual fields, levels, profiles and forms of study. Internships are to help in confronting the knowledge acquired during studies with the requirements of the labour market, acquiring skills useful in the profession, learning about practical issues related to working in positions for which the student is prepared during the course of studies. The internship is to familiarize the student with professional language relevant to a specific industry and work culture. The rules for the organization of internships are set out in the Rector's ordinance. Detailed rules of apprenticeship taking into account the specifics of particular fields of study are set out in the field's of study apprenticeship regulations, in particular: learning outcomes assumed to be achieved by the student during the apprenticeship, framework apprenticeship program including a description of issues, dimension of apprenticeship (number of weeks of practice); form of internship (continuous, mid-year), criteria for choosing the place of internship, obligations of the student staying in the internship, obligations of the academic tutor, conditions for completing the internship by the student and conditions for exemption from the internship obligation in whole or in part. The number of ECTS and the number of hours are specified in the course structure.

Studies at Bachelor's degree course "Entrepreneurship" have been developed in close connection with the goals set out in the Strategy Development of the University of Silesia for 2020-2025. The key strategic goal of the University is to transform the University of Silesia into a research university with the highest level of education, strongly linked to scientific activities (POB 1). In this context, the study program in Entrepreneurship has been developed in such a way that it culminates in the preparation of a diploma thesis (bachelor's thesis) or a bachelor's project (it may be, for example, a business plan for a specific activity or the preparation of an application for co-financing of a new business activity or projects implemented in an existing enterprise). [under a national or EU subsidy] or another project form, appropriate for people who started running a business during their studies, completed a foreign professional internship, or participated in a faculty research project). This is to be achieved through classes that familiarize students with taking up scientific challenges, both as part of research teams and in individual teaching work. This aims to build the best tradition of universitas - a community of learners and scholars, a place for transmitting knowledge, skills and academic values. According to the University of Silesia Development Strategy, the University's educational offer is to be modern, related to scientific research and attractive to students and candidates for studies. Due to this, and with the educational needs of students in mind, studies at Bachelor's degree course "Entrepreneurship" has been prepared to respond as fully as possible to the needs of the labor market and the expectations of graduates. Importantly, its aim is to acquire knowledge and universal skills that are typical of university education. The aim of modifying the Entrepreneurship study program was to combine the provision of information taking into account the latest state of knowledge and shaping a rational image of the world with the development of skills directly useful to a person in running their own business or taking up a job in a position related to the management and organization of an enterprise. This field of study will allow students to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of law, economics and management, which is crucial for future work in the business sector, undertaking second-cycle studies, and will also contribute to preparing graduates for active participation in socio-economic life. The University of Silesia Development Strategy for 2020-2025 also emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of education. Entrepreneurship studies also perfectly fit this goal, combining knowledge in the field of law, economics and management, which in turn will allow students to acquire comprehensive competences sought on the labor market. To sum up, the Entrepreneurship study program has been modified taking into account POB research issues, expectations of the socio-economic environment and employers (with particular emphasis on the WPiA Expert Council), expectations of current graduates of faculties taught at WPiA and global challenges. Therefore, there is no doubt that first-cycle studies in Entrepreneurship are in line with the strategic goal of the University of Silesia, which is education at the highest level, adapted to the constantly changing needs of the socio-economic environment. A desirable component of modern education, in the opinion of both representatives of domestic and foreign offices and institutions, as well as all external stakeholders, is the combination of professional and general competencies, such as: communication skills for establishing relationships and solving problems, critical and analytical thinking, cooperation and creativity. First-cycle studies in Entrepreneurship are aimed at preparing you to run your own business or take up a job in a position related to the management and organization of an enterprise. A graduate of this field will have in-depth knowledge of the theoretical foundations of law, economics and management, the structures of state and private institutions participating in economic transactions, and the important relationships between structures and institutions in the economy in the local, regional and global dimensions. In addition, the graduate will have knowledge of economic principles and organizational rules determining the functioning of basic social and economic structures. Thanks to the studies completed, the student will also have the ability to recognize, diagnose and solve problems related to issues such as people management within the business or positions held, and be able to obtain and analyze information in order to then use it to increase the effectiveness of their work. Importantly, the graduate will be familiar with the legal system, which will allow him/her to find and interpret legal provisions, as well as to apply the acquired knowledge in a practical way (conclude contracts, prepare letters, decisions or appeals). Additionally, he will be able to use basic micro and macroeconomic methods in practice, as well as: indicate limitations and conditions affecting the decision-making process, implement projects, analyze and perform other forms of activity typical of an entrepreneur, organizer, and manager. Knows a foreign language at the B2 level of proficiency of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​of the Council of Europe. The graduate also has the competence to work in a team and is able to independently acquire both practical and theoretical knowledge, as well as is capable of entrepreneurial action. The graduate has competences in the use of information technologies, with particular emphasis on the use of databases.