Awareness of Start-up Opportunities at Brandenburg University of Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-374
Author(s):  
Stefan A. Uhlich ◽  
Magdalena Missler-Behr
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Advanced Students ◽  
Career Option ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Maximum Benefit ◽  
National Economies ◽  
Start Ups

Small and medium-sized businesses are generally considered to be a key driving force in national economies. In comparison with other countries, the percentage of nascent entrepreneurs in Germany is small. This has been attributed to a lack of entrepreneurial awareness, which can be created and developed in schools and higher education institutions. The importance of intensifying the teaching and training of entrepreneurial skills has therefore often been stressed. Two different courses on entrepreneurship – a traditional lecture course and an advanced seminar course – are offered in the summer term at Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus. Two surveys were conducted in 2010 for each course, to measure the change in the students' willingness to start a business and thus to gain insights into the effect of entrepreneurship education on ‘founding’ awareness – that is, awareness of the process and demands of entrepreneurial start-ups. Analysis of the survey data was designed to identify (a) whether a change in students' founding propensity can be achieved through entrepreneurship education; (b) what type of course is best suited to introducing students to the idea of self-employment; and (c) whether specific groups of students can benefit from different types of courses. The research results suggest a positive change occurred in participants' stereotypically pessimistic perception of the German climate with regard to new start-up businesses. Some who had never thought about becoming an entrepreneur discovered a personal affinity for this career option. An unexpected finding was that the level of interest in start-up businesses of many students who had originally planned to establish such a business gradually declined. The authors conclude that entrepreneurship education should be offered primarily to advanced students, in order to derive maximum benefit.

Student entrepreneurship ecosystems at Australian higher education institutions

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Maritz ◽  
Quan Nguyen ◽  
Sergey Ivanov
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
University Student ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Entrepreneurship ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Entrepreneurship Ecosystems ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Impact

PurposeDespite the significance, university student start-ups and student entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEEs) have been subject to little research. This study aims to apply a qualitative emergent enquiry approach to explore best practice SEEs in Australia, complimented by narratives from leading scholars in higher education institutions with the aim of delineating the integrative components of SEEs.Design/methodology/approachAdopting the entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and aligned to the social cognitive theory, this paper explores the components and dynamics of SEEs, contributing to an understanding of how such components can better support the growth, sustainability and success of student start-ups. The authors extend entrepreneurship research on social construction using narrative research.FindingsThe findings provide guidelines for researchers, entrepreneurship scholars and educators, entrepreneurship students, policymakers and practitioners to enhance the impact and success of university student start-ups by adopting a student ecosystem approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe narratives represent a limited number of universities with an opportunity for further research to empirically measure the impact and outcomes of SEEs. The research is exploratory, inherently conceptual and emergent, providing an opportunity for validation of narrative frameworks in future studies.Practical implicationsThe findings may assist university managers to be more aware of their own subconscious preferences to student entrepreneurship and start-up initiatives, which may be useful in refining their impact and offerings regarding a quest toward the entrepreneurial university.Social implicationsFrom social perspectives, the alignment of the components of SEE has the ability to enhance and shift the entrepreneurial mindset of entrepreneurship students, notwithstanding enhancement of intentionality and self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis is the first study of SEEs in Australia, highlighting the importance of the integration of entrepreneurship education programs, entrepreneurship education ecosystems, the entrepreneurial university and specific start-up initiatives such as university accelerators. Furthermore, students may enhance their entrepreneurial mindset by actively engaging in such ecosystems.

The perceptions of Australian senior entrepreneurs on the drivers of their entrepreneurial activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aron Perenyi ◽  
Roxanne Zolin ◽  
Alex Maritz
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose Why is self-employment an attractive option for certain seniors and what drives seniors into business start-ups? In this study, the motivations and preferences of senior entrepreneurs in Australia, to become self-employed, by means of business start-ups, are explored. The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical basis for policy implications. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods study is conducted. Members of the National Senior’s Association in Australia were interviewed and surveyed. The semi-structured interviews identified the key factors influencing senior entrepreneurs in relation to self-employment and entrepreneurial choices at a later career stage. The survey collected information on intentionality, motivation, skills, opportunities, success, satisfaction, participation, barriers, benefits, education and training, and perceptions of policy support for senior entrepreneurs. Findings Respondents gave an account of the prevalence of pull factors motivating their choice of an entrepreneurial career. Multivariate statistical analysis of survey responses showed that senior entrepreneurs are more driven by opportunity than necessity and are primarily internally motivated. Research limitations/implications Results of this study suggest a weak link between motivation by others and the act of start-up, but this may also imply that those seniors who are more likely to become entrepreneurs are more likely to ignore the impulses from their social context. This requires further investigation to ensure a robust identification of drivers and an elimination of contextual effects. Further research is suggested to compose a relevant model structure in different contexts and a representative sample to confirm the model outcomes. Originality/value This is the first mixed methods study of the antecedents of senior entrepreneurs’ start-up intentions in Australia. The study also uses entrepreneurial activity as opposed to intention as its dependent variable, which allows for a more accurate evaluation of antecedents to the senior entrepreneurship phenomenon.

scholarly journals Who Intends to Enroll in Entrepreneurship Education? Entrepreneurial Self-Identity as a Precursor

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Liñán ◽  
Francesco Ceresia ◽  
Antonio Bernal
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Relevant Variable ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Proposed Model

Entrepreneurial self-identity is attracting increasing attention as a potentially relevant variable in explaining the entrepreneurial process. So far, most research treats entrepreneurial self-identity as a consequence of, or, at the most, as being developed through the start-up process. In this article, in contrast, we analyze its role as a previous element that helps determine the entrepreneurial intention of individuals, the perceived usefulness of entrepreneurship education, and, indirectly, their interest in participating in entrepreneurship education courses. Our hypotheses are tested on a sample of Italian university students and graduates ( N = 88) with no previous participation in entrepreneurship education or self-employment experience. The results clearly support the proposed model. The implications of these results, if further confirmed, are highly relevant. They indicate that there is a strong risk of self-selection bias in most entrepreneurship education evaluation studies. This is due to an element of reversed causation in which participants who already exhibit a higher entrepreneurial self-identity are more interested in entrepreneurship. At the same time, these results also suggest that professionals and public decision-makers involved in fostering entrepreneurship should pay attention to the development of this entrepreneurial self-identity in childhood and adolescence.

Entrepreneurship education and start‐up activity: a gender perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vegard Johansen
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Design ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Upper Secondary Schools

PurposeThis article seeks to evaluate whether entrepreneurship education (EE) in upper secondary schools promotes male and female start‐up activity. The Company programme (CP) reaches more than 200,000 European youths annually.Design/methodology/approachThe control‐group design is methodologically strong, and the empirical data are from Norway. Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,171 24‐25 year olds; 50 per cent of the respondents had been involved in CP in the period 2004‐2006, and 50 per cent had not. The analyses also control for other factors of relevance to start‐up activity.FindingsResults from econometric analyses indicate a positive correlation between participation in CP and start‐up activity. The analyses also indicate that CP has more impact on male start‐up activity as compared to women.Research limitations/implicationsA lot of other influences occur between the participation in CP and the start‐up activity. Although CP may be associated with more start‐ups, these are not necessarily start‐ups of a higher quality, survival rate or growth potential. The analysis also conceals variations in start‐up activity among CP‐participants with regard to time spent on CP, position in the CP, and obligatory vs voluntary participation.Practical implicationsTo promote start‐up activity among women more effectively, CP could be more focused on shaping confidence and increasing perceived competency among girls participating in the programme.Social implicationsOne solution for how to increase start‐up activity among young men and women could be to offer EE within upper secondary schools.Originality/valueThe study measures experience with start‐up activity 6‐8 years after EE‐participation in upper secondary school, it compares the impact of EE on male and female business start‐ups, and the control‐group design is advantageous compared to previous studies.

scholarly journals Investigating the motivation for enterprise education: a CaRBS based exposition

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 584-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm J. Beynon ◽  
Paul Jones ◽  
Gary Packham ◽  
David Pickernell
Keyword(s):  
Course Design ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Uncertain Reasoning ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Entrepreneurial Education ◽  
Data Mining Technique ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Start Up

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate student motivation for undertaking an entrepreneurship education programme and their ultimate employment aspirations through a novel data mining technique. The study considered what relationship certain motivation characteristics have to students’ aspirations, specifically in terms of their intention to be self-employed or employed. Design/methodology/approach – The study examined enrolment data of 720 students on an entrepreneurial education programme, with work statuses of full-time, part-time or unemployed and have known aspirations to either employment or self-employment. The Classification and Ranking Belief Simplex (CaRBS) technique is employed in the classification analyses undertaken, which offers an uncertain reasoning based visual approach to the exposition of findings. Findings – The classification findings demonstrate the level of contribution of the different motivations to the discernment of students with self-employed and employed aspirations. The most contributing aspirations were Start-Up, Interests and Qualifications. For these aspirations, further understanding is provided with respect to gender and student age (in terms of the association with aspirations towards self-employed or employed). For example, with respect to Start-Up, the older the unemployed student, the increasing association with employment rather than self-employment career aspirations. Research limitations/implications – The study identifies candidate motivation and the demographic profile for student's undertaking an entrepreneurial education programme. Knowing applicant aspirations should inform course design, pedagogy and its inherent flexibility and recognise the specific needs of certain student groups. Originality/value – The study contributes to the literature examining motivations for undertaking entrepreneurship education and categorising motivating factors. These findings will be of value to both education providers and researchers.

scholarly journals "Start-Up" in E-Learning Mode as a Basic Project of the Final Year of Entrepreneurship Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Zhi-Jiang Liu ◽  
Marina Galichkina ◽  
Anastasia Kurilova ◽  
Svetlana Vlasova
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Start Up ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Online Business ◽  
Domestic Practices ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Foreign Universities

The study discusses the main positive aspects of the implementation of start-up projects at universities. In the context of the migration of most of the businesses to the network, the most important skill of an entrepreneur is the ability to build an online business from the very first steps. The basis for this is the creation a start-up in e-learning mode. A sample of domestic and foreign universities has been designed to compare new domestic practices with foreign experience of e-learning in entrepreneurship. It has been confirmed that the introduction of start-ups in e-learning mode in the final year of entrepreneurship education positively affects the development of professional qualities of students both in online and off-line business and helps to better consolidate the material. In addition, based on the work done, a final year model of entrepreneurship education with e-learning has been proposed; it is based on 3 main components (the student as a generator of ideas; the mentor as necessary support, and information online channels as the main source of information) and is aimed at solidifying knowledge through the start-up project defense. The importance of the role of universities in this process has been proved and the idea of involving a business mentor in e-learning process to achieve a synergistic effect has been considered.

scholarly journals Promoting student enterprise: Reflections on a university start-up programme

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-79
Author(s):  
Colin Mason ◽  
Marion Anderson ◽  
Tomáš Kessl ◽  
Michaela Hruskova
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Content Delivery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The University ◽  
Start Ups

Universities now see the promotion of student and graduate start-ups as a key part of their role. This has two strands: (i) incorporating entrepreneurship education into the curriculum, and (ii) activities and infrastructure to support and accelerate the start-up process. There is now a substantial literature on the design, content, delivery and impact of entrepreneurship education. In contrast, little attention has been given to these issues in the context of student business start-up programmes. This paper describes and reflects on the outcomes of an ongoing small-scale start-up programme – the Santander Summer Company Programme at the University of Glasgow and offers a number of observations on the objectives, design and evaluation of such programmes. A key conclusion is that such programmes require to be part of a broader university entrepreneurial ecosystem and embedded within the wider local, regional and national entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Starting up in Business

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Greenbank
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Business Owner ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Rational Decision Making ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Actual Experience ◽  
Career Option ◽  
Start Up

This paper is based on interviews with 58 micro-business owner-managers. It examines the factors influencing their decision to start up in business and classifies them as either ‘dissatisfiers’ or ‘motivators’. The research found that uncertainty in the decision-making process arises because the motivation to become self-employed is often based on beliefs rather than actual experience. This is important because uncertainty increases the perceived level of risk attached to self-employment as a career option. If self-employment is to be promoted, policy makers need to encourage more rational decision making and to provide programmes that actually involve the experience of running a small business.

ATTITUDE TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND NEW VENTURE CREATION

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (04) ◽  
pp. 339-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
LENA LEE ◽  
POH-KAM WONG
Keyword(s):  
New Ventures ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Entrepreneurial Education ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Start Ups

Does an individual's positive attitude towards entrepreneurship education promote the growth of new ventures? It appears that it does. The empirical results presented in this paper support a prima facie claim that a relationship exists between attitude towards entrepreneurial education and business start-up. The aim of this paper is to investigate the hypothesised positive relationship between new venture founding and attitude towards entrepreneurial education (AEE). Limited if any research on new venture founding in the past has explored the contribution of AEE in business start-ups. A survey is carried out on a large sample (more than 15,000) of tertiary students residing in Singapore. In analysing the dataset, we have controlled for various factors in the regression analysis. Due to the limitations of our study, we are cautious not to assert any causal link between these 2 variables. The implications of the results to policy makers and educators are discussed along with suggestions for future research in order to refine our present understanding of these relationships.

scholarly journals Analysing impacts of the economic crisis on the pre–start ups process of business students in Germany.

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 41-57
Author(s):  
Walter Ruda ◽  
Thomas Martin ◽  
Rubén Ascua ◽  
Benjamin Danko
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Specialized Knowledge ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Universities Of Applied Sciences ◽  
Start Ups

The article is part of the empirical research project “Starting up Businesses and Entrepreneurship by Students” (GESt–study) and analyzes potential impacts of the economic crisis on the pre–start–up process of business students surveyed before and during the downturn at four German universities (of applied sciences), what supports the advancement of entrepreneurship education and support within two different macroeconomic contexts. Though in Germany recessions typically animate more persons to self–employment, these business start–ups are mostly based on necessity–driven entrepreneurship. But particularly opportunity entrepreneurship has positive effects on economic growth and employment. Whereas no significant differences can be detected regarding their start–up propensities, the economic crisis indeed has heightened the intended start–up time as well as the necessity–driven start–up motivation of the surveyed business students, but not their start–up motivation from economic self–realization. Therefore, self–employment as vocational alternative has to be highlighted stronger and entrepreneurial basic knowledge has to be taught adequately to the students so that they are able to mature as potential entrepreneurs at their universities – the location where specialized knowledge about their subsequent professionalism is imparted – what facilitates them to generate future innovations accompanied by enduring and high–skilled employment.

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