Perceptions of Entrepreneurship and Online Learning During the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Abstract

Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) restrictions significantly influenced the learning and delivery of educational programs, especially traditionally hands-on educational programs. Entrepreneurship education and training (EET) studies on learners’ perceptions have so far focused on formal EET in university settings or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This paper explores youth perceptions of a non-formal, online EET program conducted during the pandemic. Perceptions matter since they tend to translate into attitudes, which in turn potentially translate into achieving learning outcomes (or not). Using hermeneutic content analysis (HCA), transcripts from 35 youth participants were analyzed, where the participants were categorized into four groups based on completion of the program and household income. Individual motivations were very important for all and the lack of social support was a concern for low-income youth. Almost a third of the dropouts who were part of the study did so to actually start their own business during the pandemic versus only one out of 18 of non-dropouts. The pandemic was disruptive to livelihoods and to their families, which sometimes made learning more difficult. Future online EET programs should relate learners’ motivations for learning entrepreneurship with learning outcomes by instilling social support structures and taking contextual influences into consideration.

Emprendimiento desde la percepción docente

“…Es importante considerar que, en marzo de 2020, cuando la Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró al COVID-19 una pandemia, más del 90% de la población estudiantil del mundo pasó por una transición repentina y sin precedentes hacia la educación a distancia. Aunque este fue un momento desafiante para los instructores de todas las disciplinas, los educadores en emprendimiento enfrentaron el dilema único de preservar la naturaleza experiencial de la educación en emprendimiento en el entorno en línea (Vecchiarini et al, 2023).…”

Relation between Nursing Students’ Tendencies for Entrepreneurship and Career Adaptability

“…Increasing globalization, rapidly changing clients' demands and technological advancements, as well as quick shifts in global competitive settings, compel both established organizations and entrepreneurs to search for fresh, profitable alternatives. (1) Entrepreneurship enhances nursing students' abilities in the workplace and benefits their personal lives. When nurses are deciding how to improve their careers and plan their futures, entrepreneurship plays a significant role in their decisions.…”