Cynical neoliberalism or true agency? Israeli governmental discourse about entrepreneurship in the education system

Abstract

This study examines and characterises the governmental discourse regarding entrepreneurship policy in the Israeli education system as a case study to expand existing knowledge regarding national entrepreneurship policy in education. The study is based on in-depth interviews with key governmental policymakers (holding the top of the pyramid position in the Ministry of Education) involved in the creation and formulation of the education policy in Israel for over a decade. We provide a unique glimpse into the mindset where decisions that shape the entire Israeli education system are made, and present new insights regarding the components of entrepreneurship policy in education in Israel, as well as the characteristics of such policy, its expressions and the construction of entrepreneurship as a field of policy in the education sector.