As technology reshapes industries and business models, education must evolve just as swiftly. At Wawasan Open University (WOU), the School of Business and Administration (SBA) is redesigning its curriculum to nurture entrepreneurial thinkers who blend creativity, ethics, and data-driven insight.
In Part 3 of our Reimagining Business Education series, Associate Professor Dr. Gary Tan* discusses how SBA is embedding an entrepreneurial mindset, human-centred learning, and cross-disciplinary perspectives into its curriculum. He explains how these elements are shaping a new generation of business professionals who can connect ideas across fields, harness digital tools, and lead responsibly in a world defined by disruption and innovation.
What does “entrepreneurial mindset” mean in today’s context — and how is SBA cultivating it?
In today’s dynamic landscape, an “entrepreneurial mindset” extends far beyond merely starting a new business. It signifies a collection of skills and attitudes that enable individuals to identify opportunities, innovate, take calculated risks, and persist in the face of setbacks, regardless of whether they’re launching a startup or driving innovation within an established corporation (intrapreneurship). This mindset encompasses creativity, problem-solving, adaptability, resilience, a proactive orientation, and a strong bias for action. It’s about continuously learning, challenging the status quo, and having the determination to transform ideas into tangible value.
WOU’s School of Business Administration (SBA) cultivates this entrepreneurial mindset by integrating practical, real-world experiences throughout its programmes. Rather than relying solely on theoretical instruction, the school emphasises hands-on learning through projects, case studies, and simulations that expose students to ambiguous and fast-moving business challenges.
At SBA, we encourage innovative thinking and digital experimentation, fostering skills in areas like digital content creation and search engine optimisation, which are critical for identifying and capitalising on new opportunities. Furthermore, the curriculum’s focus on critical thinking, data literacy, and business analytics equips students to make informed decisions and adapt quickly, essential traits of an entrepreneurial leader. By focusing on both technical proficiency and crucial soft skills, WOU aims to produce graduates who are not just knowledgeable, but are empowered to innovate and lead in an ever-changing world.
How does SBA balance hard skills like strategy and analytics with human-centred skills like empathy, ethics, and resilience?
We adopt a holistic approach to ensure graduates possess both essential hard skills and crucial human-centred capabilities. Our academicians explicitly build expertise in areas such as strategy, data analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Business Analytics), and digital transformation, they are also designed to cultivate vital soft skills.
This balance is achieved through several pedagogical approaches. The curriculum incorporates courses like “Business Ethics,” which directly addresses ethical considerations in business decision-making. Furthermore, the emphasis on “student-centric learning,” real-world connections, and collaborative projects fosters interpersonal skills, empathy, and effective communication. The focus on developing “technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills” is explicitly stated. By immersing students in real-world scenarios that demand critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability under uncertainty, SBA naturally cultivates resilience. This integrated approach ensures graduates are not only strategically astute and data-driven but also ethically aware, empathetic leaders capable of navigating complex human dynamics in the modern business world.
Can you share examples of how students have applied entrepreneurial or innovative thinking to real-world challenges?
We emphasise hands-on learning, which naturally leads to students applying entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to real-world challenges. While specific detailed case studies of student entrepreneurial ventures aren’t prominently highlighted in publicly available information, the design of their programmes strongly points to this capability building. Our learners are tasked, through their class discussion and continuous assessments with understanding how to leverage digital tools to solve business problems, optimise online presence for real or simulated companies, and create compelling content to attract customers – all activities central to launching and growing a digital venture.
Furthermore, the curriculum’s emphasis on “business analytics and AI essentials” means students are equipped to analyse market trends, identify unmet needs, and propose data-driven solutions. This analytical rigor combined with practical digital skills allows students to approach real-world scenarios with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, whether they are developing a new digital marketing strategy for an existing business or conceptualising a new online service from scratch.
The focus on “capstone projects” in the final year of our Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration programmes provide a formal avenue for students to apply and consolidate their knowledge, showcasing their expertise in addressing real-world challenges within the digital business landscape.
How are students taught to think systemically and work across disciplines?
At SBA, we adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to cultivate systemic thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration, as reflected in programmes such as the Bachelor of Management (Hons) with Psychology. A cornerstone of our educational philosophy is the “Big Picture Perspective,” which aims to equip graduates with a holistic understanding of business strategies and global insights. This approach encourages students to recognise the intricate interconnections between various business functions and how external forces, ranging from technological advancements to global economic shifts, impact an organisation as a cohesive system.
Within its business programmes, SBA fosters this systemic thinking through an integrated curriculum that covers core management areas such as finance, marketing, operations, information technologies, corporate governance, and human resources. This multidisciplinary exposure ensures students grasp how each discipline contributes to, and is affected by, the broader organisational system.
Furthermore, the use of real-world connections and extensive case studies compels students to analyse complex business scenarios from multiple perspectives, identifying interconnected challenges and developing solutions that consider the wider organisational and market ecosystem. The curriculum’s strong emphasis on data and technology as key business drivers also inherently promotes a systemic view, as the impact of technology rarely remains confined to a single department. Through problem-solving and project-based learning, students are required to draw upon knowledge from diverse disciplines and often engage in collaborative efforts, mirroring the interdisciplinary nature of real-world business challenges. For instance, designing a digital marketing strategy, as taught in the Digital Business programme, necessitates an understanding of marketing principles, underlying technology, consumer behaviour, and financial implications.
Finally, the school’s mentorship-focused approach and strong industry connections provide students with invaluable insights from experienced professionals who naturally operate across disciplines and employ systemic thinking to navigate the complexities of contemporary business environments.
* Associate Professor Dr. Gary Tan is Executive Dean of the School of Business and Administration at Wawasan Open University (WOU). A recognised expert in organisational leadership, managerial finance, and economics, he is committed to cultivating agile, future-ready business leaders for the evolving global economy.
Shape Your Future in Business with WOU
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About WOU
Wawasan Open University (WOU) is Malaysia’s pioneer in flexible online learning, offering full-time or part-time study through 100% online, hybrid, or work-based pathways – designed to fit around your life. Our in-demand programmes and accredited, stackable micro-credentials are complemented by WOU Academy, which partners with industries to deliver customised upskilling and training solutions for workforce development. As Malaysia’s leading APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) institution, we help you fast-track your studies and find the best-fit learning pathway based on your work experience and career goals.