Effects of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Skills of Young High School Students

Abstract

The effectiveness of entrepreneurship education (EE) initiatives aimed at young students in basic education has aroused the interest of researchers. International studies have also investigated the effects of cognitive and non-cognitive skills, competences, and entrepreneurial intentions. In Brazil there is a gap in this regard, so this research assesses the effects of the mini-company initiative offered by Junior Achievement (JA) Brasil on high school students’ perception of their entrepreneurial skills. A questionnaire assessed 10 entrepreneurial skills using a 7-point Likert scale, in addition to demographic and profile variables. Participants from five Brazilian states answered the questionnaires before and after participating in the JA Brasil initiative in 2019. The 287 questionnaires were statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and regression models. There was a positive effect on four skills: entrepreneurial self-efficacy, analytical ability, creativity, and risk management. The results support decisions to expand EE initiatives in the curriculum of public, private, or third-sector educational institutions.