Title: Entrepreneurs' perceptions of their entrepreneurial process: a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with education graduates in the Basque Country, Spain

Authors: Jessica Paños-Castro; María José Bezanilla; Leire Markuerkiaga

Addresses: Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, Unibertsitate Etorb., 24, 48007 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain ' Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, Unibertsitate Etorb., 24, 48007 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain ' Polytechnic School, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Edif. 6, Loramendi Kalea, 4, 20500 Arrasate, Gipuzkoa, Spain

Abstract: Entrepreneurship is necessary for the economic development of societies. Universities play a key role in this process by fostering entrepreneurship and promoting entrepreneurial skills. Studies show that entrepreneurship is largely mainstreamed into economics faculties; however, a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted to work across different fields. The aim of this study is to explore how graduates from faculties and schools of education in the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country (Spain) perceive the factors that have influenced their entrepreneurial process, in order to establish good practices, and to highlight strengths and weaknesses. A qualitative methodology was used by conducting and analysing 20 in-depth interviews. The main conclusions point to the lack of development of entrepreneurial skills in universities, the use of traditional methodologies by teaching staff, entrepreneurs' passion and their desire to create companies that possess specific hallmark characteristics, among others.

Keywords: graduates; faculty of education; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurs; Basque Country; self-perception; qualitative analysis; interviews; Entrepreneurial University; case analysis; entrepreneurial education; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.136209

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2024 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.57 - 81

Received: 26 Jan 2022
Accepted: 05 Sep 2022
Published online: 22 Jan 2024 *