Challenges for start-ups and SME in the twenty-first century

Abstract

The following essay examines the mission of the School of Business at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and the key question of what pro-socially oriented entrepreneurs can contribute through start-ups and SMEs to meeting the challenges of the twenty-frst century. The mission is: “We educate innovative, responsible specialists and managers for an interconnected and ever-changing world.” Along the mission, it defnes what can be understood by “innovative and responsible specialists and managers.” Next, exemplary challenges in the twenty-frst century are identifed under the keywords “interconnected” and “dynamic” world. Finally, the answer to the guiding question of the essay follows. With its fundamental character, this essay addresses besides other interested readers in particular business students and wants to stimulate them to think and discuss the orientation and the beneft of their “mission-based” education.