Enterprise and entrepreneurship education: Towards a comparative analysis

Purpose - This paper states the case for adopting a comparative method of analysis to the study of enterprise education. Adopting a comparative approach can provide fresh insights and opportunities for researching from different perspectives. It develops understanding of the concept by reexamining its origins and history. By default its purpose, development operation and rationale are also briefly discussed through reference to literature and policy. Design/methodology/approach - This paper draws on the literature around enterprise and entrepreneurship education. It argues that comparative analysis of enterprise education is an important methodological tool that can enrich, deepen and inform research processes, findings and outcomes. Comparative analysis can take a number of forms and can include within country, cross-country, historical, temporal, longitudinal, spatial, pedagogical, policy or other types of comparison. Findings - This paper unpacks and teases out some of the points of difference and similarity between enterprise education concepts, policies and practices; and the way they are introduced to, applied and operate in different contexts. The main focus and point for comparison is the UK. Enterprise education is distinct from and should not be confused with business and economics. Teacher training in the techniques of enterprise education and resources designed to suit social and cultural requirements is crucial to achieve successful project outcomes. Originality/value - The comparative analysis of enterprise education programmes and policies advocated here adds value and provides additional insight to these concepts and practices

Are we committed to teach entrepreneurship in business school?: An empirical analysis of lecturers in India, Singapore and Malaysia

YesDespite large number of universities and institutions offering management degrees and interest in the field of entrepreneurship, very less is known about the perception of business lecturers regarding the subject of entrepreneurship, dominant pedagogy, their commitment to teaching and institutional support. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Considering this, the study was carried out with structured questionnaire among 232 lecturers of business management from selected management schools of these three South Asian countries, India, Singapore and Malaysia. In response to chief objective of the study, i.e. commitment of lecturers to teach entrepreneurship, it was found that almost 85 per cent of the respondents have shown that they feel fully committed to teach entrepreneurship and almost 35 per cent of the respondents feel that they will be unwilling to exchange current entrepreneurship teaching for teaching in other subjects. In the same vein, almost 50 per cent of the lecturers agree that their institution is keen to develop entrepreneurship education. However, in relation to training and staff development, it is found that almost 38 per cent of the lecturers have not received such a support. The study provides insight about the level of commitment that business lecturers depict to teach entrepreneurship and resources provided to them by their institute to engage in entrepreneurship education