Doctoral education in entrepreneurship: a European case study

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to analyse a European doctoral programme in entrepreneurship. The specific objectives are the following: to illustrate the process to design and launch the doctoral programme; to describe its main characteristics; and to explore the conditioning factors to its success. Design/methodology/approach -The methodology is based upon a systematic application of a longitudinal case-study approach. Multiple sources of evidence were gathered. These included interviews with key informants and documentary data. Additionally, a participant observation approach was adopted. Concerning the theoretical approach, the related literature in entrepreneurship education was reviewed. Findings -The analysis supports the notions that the launching of a doctoral programme is similar to the process of creating a new business. The results emphasise the importance of the founder's personality, the network ties among universities and the strategic vision in order to achieve success in an entrepreneurship doctoral programme.Research limitations/implications -The interpretation of findings represents the authors' perceptions about a single case study. In terms of theory building, as a future research line, a multi-case study approach would allow for the developmental history of several doctoral programmes to be studied and compared. Originality/value -This paper provides a very useful source of information for universities that are planning to offer a doctoral programme in entrepreneurship.

Enacting entrepreneurship research in a pioneering, provocative and participative way: on the work of Bengt Johannisson

“…2) In 1975 he initiated the first academic small business program at Växjö University and in 1980 organized the first university doctoral course in entrepreneurship and small business management in Sweden. 3) Early on he became involved in the European Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, which aims to develop scholars and promote research in the field of entrepreneurship (for a history, see Urbano et al 2008). 1 4) He co-wrote the first article in the first issue of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development (Johannisson and Nilsson 1989).…”

Representações sociais do empreendedorismo: o papel da formação na aquisição de competências empreendedoras

“…Daí que os empreendedores sejam os condutores da economia de mercado, criando as condições para que a sociedade obtenha riqueza, postos de trabalho e variedade de escolha para os consumidores. Assim, o empreendedorismo tem sido considerado determinante para a criação de valor, sendo um potente motor de desenvolvimento económico e social (Kuratko, 2005;Minniti & Bygrave, 2004;Urbano, Aponte, & Toledano, 2008). É também hoje valorizado pela descoberta, avaliação e exploração de oportunidades para criar bens e serviços (Shane & Venkataraman, 2000).…”

Adult Education and Work Contexts: International Perspectives and Challenges

“…Entrepreneurship training could be the most effective method to facilitate labour market placement for the graduate population. Studies in this area have indicated that such training could identify responsible individuals and transform them into job creators, or confront risky individuals and create work challenges for them (Urbano, Aponte, & Toledano, 2008;Dionco-Adetayo, 2014;Akintola, 2014). Through such strategies, the unemployment rate and the rate of job placement failures could be reduced.…”