The impact of educational technologies on entrepreneurial competencies: A systematic review of empirical evidence

Abstract

Researchers and educators have been exploring innovative methods in entrepreneurship education to address traditional approach failure at engaging students and developing their skills. Educational technology has shown promising results in early studies. Yet, there is a scarcity of reviews on their effectiveness in developing entrepreneurial competencies. This paper systematically reviews the empirical literature on the outcomes of educational technology used to teach entrepreneurship at higher education institutions. From an initial 316 search hits, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. The learning outcomes were translated into entrepreneurial competencies, using the EntreComp Framework as a reference. Findings show that educational technologies, in general, positively impacted entrepreneurial competencies, especially financial & economic literacy, motivation & perseverance, and initiative taking. Gaming and simulations were the most researched, having an overall positive influence, while online learning and MOOCs showed limited and sometimes contradictory effects. The study fills the scholarly gap by connecting educational technology, entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial competencies. It provides a basic mapping linking each educational technology to the competencies it develops and advocates for a competency-based pedagogy in the delivery and assessment of entrepreneurship education. Educators can apply the findings and the mapping developed in this study to design and deliver entrepreneurship courses, incorporating educational technologies more insightfully and effectively in their pedagogies.