Page 167 - guidance-supporting-europe-s-aspiring-entrepreneurs-policy-and-practice-to-harness-future-potential

Guidance supporting Europe’s aspiring entrepreneurs
Policy and practice to harness future potential

succeed in a challenging business world. Mentoring between new and
experienced entrepreneurs is one of the most effective ways of equipping novice
entrepreneurs with skills and competences to manage not only their new
business but also their career. Networking and peer learning and support
opportunities should also be made available for new entrepreneurs.

7.3. Research

This study suggests that more attention will have to be given in the coming years
to broadening and deepening the evidence base in the area of
entrepreneurship/entrepreneurship education in Europe and in the individual
Member States. It also reiterates one of the key recommendations of the 2008
Council Resolution on lifelong guidance; it has demonstrated the need for closer
and stronger linkages between policy, practice and research related to guidance.
To support this policy agenda, there is a need for a strong evidence base: such
evidence is necessary to effect change and demonstrate how and why different
approaches work, for whom and in which education, training or employment
contexts. This study goes some way towards cataloguing the current evidence
base, though it demonstrates that additional research is required to understand
fully the impact of entrepreneurial learning activities and supersede anecdotal
evidence. In summary, the communities of policy, research and practice seem to
be facing questions of considerable significance that require systematic analyses
in order to move forward policies and strategies linked to
entrepreneurship/entrepreneurship education. The extent to which policy makers,
academics and practitioners are currently equipped to understand their role in
promoting entrepreneurship/entrepreneurship learning is an important issue to be
explored further.

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