Programmes and methods for developing entrepreneurial skills in higher education

Abstract

The development of entrepreneurial competences among graduates is considered an important resource in many countries, not only because through these competences graduates can better contribute to the economic well-being of their communities by creating enterprises but also because through them, they can better direct their career development in any sector. The most successful entrepreneurship education programmes combine the development of technical and transversal skills using specific methodologies. In this paper, we evaluate in a comparative way the extent to which university-based entrepreneurship education programmes in Italy, India and Nigeria use methods that develop participants' ability to move from ideation to the implementation of something new. The literature review shows some differences between the programmes and methods developed in the three countries but also some shared strategies in adopting lines of development aimed at increasing students' entrepreneurial skills.