Evolution, challenges, and future directions in entrepreneurship education : insights from scholars

Abstract

The field of entrepreneurship education (EE) has evolved significantly over the past few decades, yet divergent perspectives regarding its focus and fragmentation persist. This study aims to explore the varying viewpoints of scholars in the field to inform future development. A qualitative and exploratory approach was taken, employing semi-structured interviews with prominent scholars and educators in entrepreneurship education. The data were analyzed using thematic coding to identify both commonalities and divergent perspectives. The findings align with the current literature stream while revealing two distinct camps of scholars in EE: those who emphasize the importance of context in shaping the knowledge taught in EE, and those who stress how context influences pedagogical methods.

This study contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurship education by offering a framework for understanding the spectrum of perspectives from synthesizing insights from educators and researchers in EE, thus suggesting important avenues for future research and development in the field for both educators and practitioners.