A Bibliometric Systematic Literature Review on the Relationship Between Problem-Based Learning Methodology and Entrepreneurship

Abstract

The rising commitment to entrepreneurial learning, both in academic and industry settings, has prompted the development of new mechanisms and methodologies. In recent years, the literature on entrepreneurship has progressively focused on the problem-based learning (PBL) methodology, particularly in response to evolving challenges within the learning environment. This paper presents a systematic bibliographic literature review (SBLR) on the application of PBL across various entrepreneurial processes in higher education and industry. This review aimed to identify significant entrepreneurial opportunities for PBL. A comprehensive search of bibliographic databases was conducted for documents published between 2002 and May 2024, resulting in the identification of 142 empirical and non-empirical papers related to PBL in entrepreneurship. The data analysis uncovered a range of subthemes regarding the use of PBL in entrepreneurship, highlighting its applications in both higher education institutions and industry. This study was guided by the research question: “What is the relationship between problem-based learning methodology and entrepreneurship?”. This research’s central and novel contribution lies in identifying diverse applications of PBL to address the various challenges that emerge within different entrepreneurial contexts. This paper also suggests future research directions.