The impact of entrepreneurial education on key entrepreneurial competencies: A systematic review of learning strategies and tools

Abstract

Purpose

Entrepreneurial Education (EE) plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs by equipping students with the necessary competencies to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain economic landscape. This research examines how EE fosters essential entrepreneurial qualities - self-efficacy, creativity, risk-taking, and innovativeness - that are central to entrepreneurial success and broader economic growth. By anchoring our investigation in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), we align with global efforts to enhance education's role in fostering responsible economic development. Furthermore, our work contributes to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) by advancing curriculum transformation, skill enhancement, and practical applicability, ultimately shaping educational approaches that support sustainable economic and social progress.

Design/methodology/approach

Anchored in Human Capital Theory, this study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with a confirmatory scope, which systematically synthesizes empirical research on EE. By categorizing key learning approaches, interventions, and tools, the study identifies those that have demonstrated effectiveness in fostering self-efficacy, creativity, risk-taking, and innovativeness. The review follows a two-phase process: the first phase scopes the most frequently examined entrepreneurial competencies in EE, identifying the entrepreneurial drivers that serve as desired learning outcomes. The second phase systematically examines educational strategies and curriculum designs that enhance these competencies, employing established criteria for screening and selecting relevant studies to ensure comprehensiveness and objectivity.

Findings

The research highlights the identification of four primary entrepreneurial drivers: self-efficacy, creativity, risk-taking, and innovativeness, as central to our study. By examining traditional, experiential, and active learning strategies - each linked with distinct educational interventions and tools - we illuminate their varied impacts on these entrepreneurial qualities. Our findings indicate that traditional learning methods provide a strong foundational basis for self-efficacy, yet are comparatively less effective in fostering creativity and innovativeness. In contrast, experiential and active learning approaches prove highly effective in nurturing a broader set of entrepreneurial qualities. Notably, when these methodologies are combined, they demonstrate enhanced effectiveness in cultivating creativity, innovativeness, and risk-taking propensity, underscoring the value of a multifaceted educational approach in nurturing entrepreneurial competencies.

Originality/value

By highlighting the interplay between diverse educational strategies and the enhancement of entrepreneurial qualities, this study makes a dual contribution to both the academic and practical realms of EE. It not only deepens our theoretical understanding of how diverse learning strategies and tools can cultivate a robust entrepreneurial mindset but also provides tangible, evidence-based guidance for educational practitioners. Our research identifies the learning approaches and tools that are most effective in nurturing these critical skills, offering a strategic blueprint for educational stakeholders. By doing so, the research advocates for the refinement of EE curricula to foster an environment conducive to innovation, thereby facilitating economic and societal progress.