Chapter 5 : Entrepreneurship Education in Europe

This chapter assesses the state of entrepreneurship education in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Europe, comparing it to developments in the United States and outlining a set of recommendations for universities and policy makers. Comparisons include the differences in definition between entrepreneurship and SMEs, multidisciplinary learning, academic and business links, quality entrepreneurship curricula, and the role of entrepreneurship within the university. Europe has the opportunity to learn from models around the world and focus on integrating the most relevant and high-quality practices into higher education institutions. Europe’s competitiveness, innovation and economic growth depend on being able to produce future leaders with the skills and attitudes to be entrepreneurial in their professional lives, whether by creating their own companies or innovating in larger organisations. Entrepreneurship education is the first and arguably the most important step for embedding an innovative culture in Europe