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Stakeholder collaboration in entrepreneurship education: an analysis of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of European higher educational institutions

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Abstract

Stakeholder theory has thus far received limited attention in the context of entrepreneurship education and university management. This paper addresses this research gap by examining the collaboration of stakeholders from the entrepreneurial ecosystem in entrepreneurship education at European higher educational institutions (HEIs). We contribute to existing research by combining literature streams from the fields of entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial ecosystems and stakeholder theory. Empirical research is based on a cross-case analysis of 20 HEIs from 19 different European countries. Data sources include next to secondary data and observation a total 216 interviews with entrepreneurship education stakeholders at these 20 HEIs. The results of the case studies are further validated through an independent peer group and through 14 interviews with international experts in entrepreneurship education. Based on this data, an overview of the key external stakeholder groups of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of HEIs and their forms of involvement in entrepreneurship education is provided. Furthermore, the strength and coordination of stakeholder collaboration and the overall approaches to stakeholder management are discussed. This analysis results in the development of a set of propositions on stakeholder involvement in the context of entrepreneurship education at HEIs. The findings of this paper highlight the importance of stakeholder collaboration from the entrepreneurial ecosystem at HEIs. Implications of the findings for entrepreneurship educators and university management are ultimately discussed along with suggestions for further research.

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Notes

  1. The 20 selected cases encompass the following HEIs: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Cambridge University, University of Coimbra, Dublin City University, University of Huddersfield, Kaunas University of Technology, Technical University Kosice, Kozminski University, University of Liège, University of Linz, University of Ljubljana, University of Lüneburg, University of Lund, EMLYON, Milan Politechnic University, University of Osijek, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Southern Denmark, Tampere University of Applied Sciences and University of Valencia.

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Acknowledgement

This research was carried out as part of a comprehensive study on entrepreneurship education at HEIs funded by the European Commission Director General Education and Culture. The authors thank all institutions and participants for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, UNESCO-Chair of Entrepreneurship and Intercultural Management, Schumpeter School of Business and Economics, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany

    Kathrin Bischoff

  2. University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

    Christine K. Volkmann

  3. Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

    David B. Audretsch

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  1. Kathrin Bischoff
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  2. Christine K. Volkmann
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Correspondence to Kathrin Bischoff.

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Bischoff, K., Volkmann, C.K. & Audretsch, D.B. Stakeholder collaboration in entrepreneurship education: an analysis of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of European higher educational institutions. J Technol Transf 43, 20–46 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9581-0

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