Sustainable futures
“Simona Negro runs the Summer School Class “Innovations for a Sustainable Future.”
She says it is important for students to learn more about the practical part of sustainable entrepreneurship.” They learn what it means to be innovative and how to handle innovation. Because innovation is uncertain, there are a lot of influences from outside and from the environment where you operate.” Negro says the game is set up realistically – the students are challenged with changes that are common in real life.
“Think about changes to government regulations,” says Negro. “New subsidies or the removal of subsidies – that really has a lot of influence on entrepreneurs when they set up a business. You have to be very flexible and anticipate on these changes.”
New possibilities
Not every student of the Summer School course “Innovations for a Sustainable Future” wants to become an entrepreneur. But after playing Solar Tycoon most have a better understanding of how innovative theories work in practice.
“For students, it is very interesting and exciting to experience that and to cope with changes. We try to explain that with innovation theories, but a theory is more like a model and the best way to learn is if you can apply it and see in practice how it works.”
Pradyumn Raju is an engineering student from New Delhi. Raju says he is excited about Solar Tycoon although he does not want to become an entrepreneur when he graduates. But he says the game has introduced him to new possibilities for the future.
“I come from an engineering background, so I may not be directly linked to renewable energy fields,” says Raju. “But I can work in the technical aspects of renewable energy. I have practical knowledge about the different types of solar panels. And I have an idea about how much solar energy can be utilized for energy. The scores of the game teach me a lot, which I can apply back home.”