Title: Exploring the impact of entrepreneurship education on university nonbusiness undergraduates

Authors: Vijay Vij, Steve Ball

Addresses: School of Computing, Engineering & Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Camden Street, Pandon Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1XE, UK. ' School of Computing, Engineering & Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Camden Street, Pandon Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1XE, UK

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the entrepreneurship education offered by final-year nonbusiness undergraduate programmes has equipped, encouraged and created an interest in 75 nonbusiness students setting up their own enterprise and/or developed entrepreneurial skills and thinking, which is supported by previous studies (Sarri and Trihopoulou, 2005; Vij, 2004). These students agreed that the entrepreneurship module has boosted mostly their self-confidence, determination, self-belief, drive to succeed by hard work and the acceptance of possible failures. The majority had a positive experience of creating business plans for their proposed enterprises. Only a few decided that they would rather be in employment. All agreed that the entrepreneurial skills gained from this module are transferable to any future working environment. Now, universities need to both focus on how to equip nonbusiness students with entrepreneurial skills, as well as create awareness that there is an alternative route to working other than being in employment.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial skills; entrepreneurial awareness; higher education; universities; transferable skills; business plans; small businesses; new business ventures; non-business students; employment; final-year undergraduates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2010.029509

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2010 Vol.9 No.1, pp.86 - 109

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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