sepHE

The strategic objective of the study “supporting the entrepreneurial potential of higher education” was gaining insights about the factors that enable entrepreneurial potential in higher education. The overall objective was to explore a broad and heterogeneous range of educational activities – including curricula and extra-curricular issues – and institutional drivers for their effects on teaching and training of students and their entrepreneurial mind sets, entrepreneurial activities, capabilities, and characteristics. The study focused on the enabling factors of entrepreneurship which could but must not always lead to new business creation. The study’s findings may be highly relevant for practical use at universities, supporting stakeholders in their activities to create and enhance entrepreneurial environments. The key part of the study was producing 20 case studies of European universities, highlighting their experiences in establishing entrepreneurial education, extra-curricular activities as well as attitudes and codes favourable for entrepreneurship. Case studies were based on a sound theoretical framework. They were selected and assessed by way of interviewing external experts. The study team was supported by a peer group of four renowned experts in the field of entrepreneurship.