Abstract:

Students in Industrial Technology Engineering who receive support in entrepreneurship are more likely to display entrepreneurial behaviour. Universities can offer this support to their students to help them in order to develop the necessary skills and knowledge. Some of the highlights can include courses, workshops, mentoring programs, networking opportunities, conferences, access to funding support, business incubators, and accelerators. Furthermore, the attitude of each student is crucial, with a growth mindset, persistence, and a willingness to take risks and learn from failure. In this regard, teaching methodologies can also create an environment conducive to the development of such profiles.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the entrepreneurial character of students in the Degree in Industrial Technology Engineering at the Bilbao School of Engineering. The goal is to understand their level of involvement in entrepreneurial activities, identify the factors influencing their entrepreneurial spirit, and evaluate the effectiveness of the school's initiatives in promoting entrepreneurship among students. The results are based on a survey of 174 students and show a moderately low entrepreneurial behaviour, but they express an interest in expanding it. They cite as main obstacles the lack of experience, difficulty in accessing funding, and the lack of time to balance it with their university studies. They also request more guidance, training, and networking opportunities but are unaware of the entrepreneurship support initiatives currently available at the School of Engineering in Bilbao. These findings provide insight into the current landscape and serve as a valuable resource for shaping forthcoming initiatives, with a particular focus on innovative learning methodologies, geared towards fostering entrepreneurship among university students.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Entrepreneurship Support, Entrepreneurship Education, Engineering Students.