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

Figure 10. Ideas that have influenced the development of entrepreneurship
education

Source: Volkmann et al., 2009.

It becomes clear from the evolution of entrepreneurship learning in Europe
that there has been a long debate about whether entrepreneurship can be taught
or, more importantly, learned. However, it is today strongly believed that
education, inclusive of entrepreneurship education, has a part to play in shaping
people’s attitudes and developing their skills. It is also believed that ‘the earlier
and more widespread the exposure to entrepreneurship and innovation, the more
likely students will become entrepreneurial, in one form or another, at some stage
in their lives’ (Volkmann et al., 2009, p. 10; European Commission, 2004b;
Martínez et al., 2010; Rodríguez, 2009). That early exposure to entrepreneurship
education should continue ‘throughout an individual’s lifelong learning path’, from
primary and secondary level, to further and higher education, and reach out to
the socially and economically excluded as well.
For these reasons, entrepreneurship education is now a prominent focus of
government activity across Europe. Member States agree that entrepreneurship
learning should develop both general competences, e.g. self-confidence,
adaptability, risk-assessment, creativity, and specific business skills and
knowledge that are needed to start up a new business venture (European
Commission, 2004b; European Commission, 2006b; McCoshan et al., 2010, p. ii;
Rodríguez, 2009). It should also develop entrepreneurial drive among students,
and build the ability of students to identify and exploit opportunities for
entrepreneurial purposes. The skill building side of entrepreneurial learning
should not only aim to build the skills to plan and launch a company but also to
manage its growth. Ethical and social dimensions related to responsible
entrepreneurial activity should also be taken into account. Entrepreneurship

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