Abstract:

When addressing the issue of entrepreneurial education (EE), the legitimate question whether entrepreneurs are made or they are born arises. The answer to this question is not simple, as many other factors, besides the individual skills and psychological traits, are involved: e.g. cultural and social norms, public interest and support toward entrepreneurship, education etc. Moreover, EE is a multifaceted topic and the outcomes of the EE, such as attitudes, skills and knowledge are still in debate. In the present paper we investigate the results of several large-scale, survey-based researches at the EU level, regarding the tasks and expectations facing education, e.g. to prepare the young generations (and not only) for employment and entrepreneurship, to help them think critically, to promote creativity, adaptability and an entrepreneurial mindset. We also found that EE in the EU is considered as an important means of supporting private initiative, innovation and adaptability, although the differences with United States’ models are still substantial. It is not only about the time gap, but especially about the philosophy of entrepreneurial education: while in the US the focus is put on the growth-oriented companies, in Europe the EE combines nurturing young businesses with a kind of protection of the SMEs sector, even a kind of legacy, as many of European small companies are family-owned, with strong ties in the local community, and less oriented towards rapid growth and internationalization. We conclude by emphasizing that teaching entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial way of thinking become even more important in times of crisis, when special skills and attitudes are required in order to adapt and to enable quick decisions, to find solutions in a dynamic and disrupting business environment. Entrepreneurial thinking and attitude can make the difference between the business discontinuity and survival, and not infrequently, it can provide opportunities for growth even in difficult times.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial thinking, business survival and development, EU.