Abstract:

The imperative of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among university students cannot be overstated, particularly in our current context of unprecedented global challenges. In an era where artificial intelligence threatens to change the world as we know it, future professionals should be equipped with adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities.

When encouraging students to think entrepreneurially, we empower them to approach problems with a solutions-oriented mindset. This is crucial for fostering innovation across all sectors, from healthcare and technology to education and environmental sustainability. Additionally, promoting entrepreneurship within the university setting can drive economic growth and job creation.

In contemporary academia, a critical examination is warranted to determine whether universities are genuinely promoting an entrepreneurial mindset among students. While many institutions have incorporated entrepreneurship programs and innovation hubs, the depth and breadth of such initiatives often fall short.
This paper aims to examine the elements that, according to existing literature, are linked to an entrepreneurial-friendly learning environment and identify their presence nowadays in a Spanish state-owned university. With that objective, a survey among faculty was carried out to check whether teachers and instructors were aware of these elements and encouraged the use by students.

Results show that, while some advances have been made, additional efforts are necessary to align educational practices with the demands of fostering a truly entrepreneurial mindset. Only through such reforms can universities fulfill their potential as incubators of innovation and agents of societal transformation.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, higher education, environment.