ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: STUDY OF THE STATUS AND THE MAIN BARRIERS IN MOZAMBICAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

This study focuses on the issue of entrepreneurship education and the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the context of developing countries. More specifically it aims to understand how entrepreneurship education is being implemented in Mozambique and to identify the main barriers to the creation of companies promoted by/incubated in HEI with entrepreneurship education in their curricula. The paper includes theoretical discussion and the presentation of a case study. It begins with a literature review about the relationship between entrepreneurship and development followed by a discussion about entrepreneurship education in the context of developing countries and entrepreneurship education provided by HEI. The empirical study is focused in Mozambique. After a contextualization of entrepreneurship education in Mozambique, Mozambican HEI with entrepreneurship education are identified and their situation and difficulties concerning the implementation of entrepreneurship education are discussed. Data collection includes documental sources and interviews with HEI representatives of a sample of ten establishments of the universe of five public and private HEI with entrepreneurship education in Mozambique. Results indicate that lack of resources, trained/qualified teachers and cooperation networks with the business community and other relevant actors are the main barriers.