Abstract:

In today's complex socio-economic environment, the labour market demands that competencies extend beyond mere technical (hard) skills to include emotional (soft) skills as well. Consequently, students need to engage in both classroom and extracurricular activities to prepare effectively. This includes participating in university-organized initiatives such as debate clubs, entrepreneurship groups and theater troupes, between others, as well as seeking opportunities outside the university. This holistic approach to preparation ensures that students develop a well-rounded set of skills that cannot be achieved through regular coursework alone.

In this study, we analize the 12th Barcelona Digital Challenge, an entrepreneurship hackathon organized by the Entrepreneurship Club of Abat Oliba CEU University. This event, well-established within Barcelona's entrepreneurial ecosystem, annually presents three business challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The specific challenges for the edition we analyze are were:
1) Sustainability,
2) Social Impact, and
3) Mental Health.

The study examined the perceptions of students from three fields of study: Law, Business Administration, and Public Relations, to identify any significant differences in their experiences and learnings. The Barcelona Digital Challenge, an entrepreneurship event, involved 70 students from various Spanish and international universities, representing different academic years and disciplines. Teams of 3 to 5 members were formed to develop a digital project addressing one of the given challenges over a week. The competition concluded with a grand final gala, where finalists presented their projects, and a panel of expert judges, organized by the university's Entrepreneurship Club, awarded the best projects. This activity effectively enhances entrepreneurial skills across disciplines, surpassing the impact of traditional courses.

In this study, we aim to assess the perception of the participants. Competencies such as teamwork, communication, and proactivity are quickly developed. Participants also enhance their technical skills through mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. Viable projects may receive support from the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Business UAO CEU to become fully-fledged companies.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, competencies, extracurricular engagement, labor market.