Title: Examining attitudes towards entrepreneurship education: a comparative analysis among experts

Authors: Katharina Fellnhofer; Sascha Kraus

Addresses: University of Bayreuth, Chair of Strategic Management and Organization, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany ' University of Liechtenstein, Institute for Entrepreneurship, Fürst-Franz-Josef-Strasse, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Abstract: This paper aims to examine the attitudes towards entrepreneurship education (EE) of entrepreneurs, investors, policy-makers, service providers and educators within Europe. This research builds on secondary data of the global entrepreneurship monitor. In particular, the study compares how individuals with different entrepreneurial expertise are aware of entrepreneurial education influences learners' perceptions of, entrepreneurship as an attractive career option. A Kruskal-Wallis test and independent t-tests were conducted to evaluate differences among the attitudes of experts. The study suggests that EE can be influenced by moderators' background and profile as well as gender. Different experts show equal perceptions in most cases. However, more attention must be drawn to EE at the basic level of schooling. In addition, our findings call for more research to be done on teaching methods by different moderators to increase skills to react appropriately to entrepreneurial opportunities. In future research, significant differences between genders need to be considered.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education; expert attitudes; gender; comparative analysis; entrepreneurs; investors; policy makers; service providers; educators; Europe; entrepreneurial expertise; learner perceptions; career options; entrepreneurial opportunities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2015.073648

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2015 Vol.7 No.4, pp.396 - 411

Received: 04 Sep 2014
Accepted: 28 Sep 2014
Published online: 15 Dec 2015 *

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