Examining Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

The authors of this paper examine the current state of undergraduate entrepreneurship education. After critiquing the spectrum of liberal and vocational elements of education and the importance of each, a new framework, “Shared Values Framework for Entrepreneurship Education,” is proposed and evaluated. Institutions’ undergraduate entrepreneurship literature and course material are analysed through content analysis, followed by 12 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with educators working in the field. Findings indicate that as a whole, undergraduate entrepreneurship education is underdeveloped and educators positioned in the field face challenges in three major areas: political tensions, philosophical dilemmas and implementation struggles. The authors conclude with recommendations to support entrepreneurship educators in their practice.