Entrepreneurial Competencies in Action: Online Fundraising Initiatives by University Students

It has been argued that entrepreneurship educators are inclined to let students learn in a safe controlled environment, with no pressure except to pass the module. Students working in groups of three were given 12 weeks (Target 1) to develop a fundraising initiative, work with various stakeholders, and execute their online fundraising initiative to meet a target goal of €2000 (Target 2) per group. Employing approaches such as Effectuation, Lean Start-Up and the Business Model Canvas, a self-directed learning approach ensured students were able to take ownership of their learning journey with the lecturer acting as coach or facilitator. The learning innovation stems from the highly experiential nature of the assignment, the various deadlines and targets that had to be met throughout the process, the promoted collaboration with real world environments, the introduction of mentors and other support actors, and the successful adaptation of the assignment to an online learning environment. The assignment can be undertaken in an online or offline environment, and it provides a highly practical learning experience that enables students to utilize and develop the 15 entrepreneurship competencies identified in the EntreComp framework under the pressure of meeting time and monetary targets

Understanding the interplay between immigrant nascent entrepreneurship and cross-cultural adaptation

Purpose All entrepreneurs face challenges during their venture start-up process, but immigrant entrepreneurs face additional and distinctive challenges due to their contextual newness. This paper focuses on understanding the intertwined journeys of nascent entrepreneurship and cross-cultural adaptation of immigrants in a small Western European country where immigrant entrepreneurship is still a relatively new phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach The induction-driven, 18-month longitudinal empirical inquiry focused on six early-stage nascent entrepreneurs. Qualitative methods included participant observation during an enterprise program, qualitative interviews and ongoing informal communication. Findings The data uncovered the interplay between the nascent immigrant entrepreneurship and cross-cultural adaptation. This led to the development of a novel conceptual framework which highlights how the cross-cultural adaptation domain links with the process of recognition, evaluation and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities by immigrant entrepreneurs. While varying temporarily and contextually, cross-cultural adaptation was found to create both enabling and constraining tensions within the nascent entrepreneurial experiences of immigrants. Research limitations/implications It is recognized that undertaking just six cases may present a significant limitation of the research, but a close examination of even one individual\u27s lived experience can yield valuable insights. It is hoped that future work will test the highlighted research propositions and other findings in different empirical contexts, and so add to the emerging conceptual framework on nascent immigrant entrepreneurship within the context of cross-cultural adaptation. Originality/value No previous qualitative studies have been undertaken seeking to understand how cross-cultural adaptation interacts with the early stages of nascent immigrant entrepreneurial activity. By integrating new venture creation and cross-cultural adaptation theories, this research contributes to the conceptualisation of early stages of nascent entrepreneurial activities of immigrants in a new host environment. The implications of the research are also relevant to enterprise support bodies, policymakers and practitioners who support immigrant entrepreneurship

Exploring alternative approaches to entrepreneurial exporting: internationalization through an effectual lens

In 2017 EU exports supported 36 million jobs in the EU. Furthermore, it was estimated that on average each billion euro of extra-EU exports supported more than 13,000 jobs in the EU Exporting is widely viewed as one of the key drivers of economic growth and many traditional approaches have been applied to engender greater levels of exporting by indigenous enterprises. However, Sarasvathy [(2001). Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency. Academy of Management Review, 26, 243–263, (2013). An effectual approach to international entrepreneurship: Overlaps, challenges and provocative possibilities. The Journal of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 71–95] on ‘Effectuation’ suggests that an alternative approach to achieving entrepreneurial growth might be possible. This article seeks to address a gap in existing literature regarding the relationship between exporting and effectuation

How Has Entrepreneurship Opportunity Formation Amongst Immigrants Been Influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how entrepreneurship opportunity formation amongst immigrants has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, given that environmental changes and irregularity can contribute to entrepreneurship opportunity formation in the immigrant set-up

How can Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) support the development of Entrepreneurial Mindsets in Local Communities?

Promoting an entrepreneurial culture through the development of entrepreneurial mindsets has become an important mission on the education and enterprise policy agenda of many governments and supranational organisations. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have responded to this call by developing entrepreneurship / enterprise education pedagogies that now place a greater focus on engendering entrepreneurial competencies within individuals rather than on the creation of new ventures. Such competences are relevant for all aspects of an individual’s life and may assist them in navigating the ever changing, chaotic, global world in which they live. However, some commentators have argued that this development is elitist as HEIs have primarily focused their support on better educated individuals and high-technology based enterprises. Indeed, it has also been suggested that HEIs are less proactive in the development of entrepreneurial mindsets more broadly in society, particularly amongst disadvantaged communities. This paper explores how HEIs can move outside of their formal education setting and dynamically support the development of entrepreneurial competencies and mindsets amongst people within their local communities

How is Immigrant Entrepreneurial Opportunity Formation Influenced by Interactions Between Home and Host Countries?

This study examined how the entrepreneurial opportunity formation process among different ethnic groups was influenced by their origins and the cultural values accustomed to them. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data was collected from 20 participants (five each from four different ethnic groups) using an in-depth interview technique. The study found that the interactions between an immigrant\u27s home and host environments can take different forms (i.e., enablers and threats) which will influence their career choices in diverse ways. The study model framework showed that participants are influenced distinctly subject to their ethnic backgrounds and the nature of their interactions with the families

Exploring the relationship between immigrant enclave theory and transnational diaspora entrepreneurial opportunity formation

Immigrant Enclave Theory (IET) investigates the concentration and localisation of immigrants in a specific geographic area. Some IET studies have highlighted the resilience of these communities and described such enclaves as sources of mutual support, collective political power and beneficial social relationships. Other studies have examined the influence of IET on immigrant entrepreneurial activity within these geographic areas, although some of these studies have highlighted IET as a contributor to low profit margin businesses due to over-representation of immigrant enterprises within the same sector and geographic locality. This article considers the potential for Transnational Diaspora Entrepreneurship (TDE) as an alternative approach to business development within immigrant enclaves and proposes a new model for the relationship between IET and TDE opportunity formation. For the contextualisation of the relationship between IET and TDE, the article explores immigrant enclave related theories and transnational diaspora entrepreneurship frameworks to draw out the relationship between IET and TDE

Expanding university entrepreneurial ecosystems to under-represented communities

Purpose – Entrepreneurship education has moved from an elitist view focussing on a start-up and picking-the-winners philosophy towards a broader enterprising behaviour approach; recognising entrepreneurship as an activity of relevance for everybody. The purpose of this paper is to extend this development and identify how university entrepreneurial ecosystems can be expanded to support communities that are under-represented in entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – Based on an integrative literature review (Torraco, 2005), this paper draws together and synthesises literature from the field of entrepreneurship, higher education studies and under-represented communities in an integrated fashion, leading to the development of a new conceptual model. Findings – This paper challenges the traditional role of universities in supporting entrepreneurship as focussing mainly on economic growth and new venture creation, and identifies how universities are also positioned to provide greater civic support to entrepreneurial learning amongst under-represented communities. Through a critical analysis of the literature, the conceptual model proposed identifies six key considerations in the expansion of university entrepreneurial ecosystems for under-represented communities. Practical implications – There are currently 96.6m people at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU (OECD, 2017) and an estimated 43.1m Americans (US Census Bureau, 2017). This paper explores how university entrepreneurial ecosystems can be expanded to support minority and disadvantaged communities who are under-represented in terms of entrepreneurial activity. Originality/value – Given that there is little research regarding how universities might activate inclusive entrepreneurship initiatives amongst under-represented communities, this paper expands existing knowledge as it identifies the key considerations encompassing university-led community collaborative enterprise support