Identifying entrepreneurial potential? An investigation of the identifiers and features of entrepreneurship

Abstract. The paper reports a study of entrepreneurship potential amongst students at one university using a quantitative instrument to measure three of the most commonly cited predictors: access to entrepreneurial role models; urgency of entrepreneurial intent; and desire for economic autonomy. The paper reports also on qualitative interviews with those identified as most and least likely to become entrepreneurs by the measure. Results suggest that the measure is effective and that there is variation between those most and least likely to become entrepreneurs and commonalities amongst those most likely to become entrepreneurs. Of the three predictors 'desire for economic autonomy' is most influential, but the generation of this 'desire' involves various internal and external influences. Findings are of interest to educators insofar as they might identify the stage of entrepreneurial development of students and develop appropriate pedagogic responses. It has implications also for policy aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship support

Introduction:Entrepreneurship education and learning and the real world

It is with great pleasure that we introduce this special issue of Industry and Higher Education. The papers that follow have been selected, reviewed and developed for publication following their original presentation in the ‘Enterprise Education and Entrepreneurial Learning’ tracks of the 36th Annual Conference of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) held in Cardiff in November 2013

2015 State of Nonprofits in Riverside County

Within the last year or so, two influential reports produced by the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego – 2015 State of Nonprofits in San Diego and Causes Count: The Economic Power of California’s Nonprofit Sector – have helped practitioners, researchers, and government officials better understand both the trends and nuances of this rapidly expanding sector. Continuing that tradition, this report, 2015 State of Nonprofits in Riverside County, provides a much needed and long overdue look at the financial health and demographic profile of nonprofits in Riverside County.https://digital.sandiego.edu/npi-stateofnpca/1000/thumbnail.jp

Learning to labour : an evaluation of internships and employability in the ICT sector

The employability of graduates is often reduced to lists of de-contextualised skills that graduates may or may not have and which may or may not translate to prized graduate positions. Recently, internships have become the way in which graduates acquire and demonstrate work-readiness to potential employers. This article examines a particular type of internship in the ICT sector, namely placements incorporated in degree education. The findings suggest that while internships can enhance employability and indeed be a mechanism for accessing permanent jobs, more often, instead of ‘learning to labour’, interns are expected to be productive workers. A mini labour market operates at the undergraduate level that advantages those already possessed of the required soft skills. The emphasis on soft skills signals a shift in the nature of ICT work with attendant implications for education of workers in this sector, revealed by anchoring employability to particular labour process(es).PostprintPeer reviewe

Microbrewing and entrepreneurship : the origins, development and integration of real ale breweries in Britain

This paper reports on an exploratory two-stage study of microbreweries in the UK. The first stage comprises an analysis of data from the Small Independent Breweries Association to offer an aggregate picture of the sector. The second stage reports on a qualitative study of the experiences of 14 microbreweries. The findings from the fieldwork show that the UK microbrewing sector is growing, that competitiveness within the brewing establishment is based on artisan manufacture, provenance and diversity rather than price, and that the sector is contestable but operates as a competitive fringe within the greater industry. The study illustrates that microbreweries can contribute to local economies and that, because of the innovation, diversity and growth in the sector, entrepreneurship is in evidence. While saturation seems a threat, the evidence presented here suggests that UK microbrewing is a healthy sector, with the prospect of ongoing growth and contribution