Abstract:

The purpose of this research was to identify various components of university education that influence students’ venture creation and entrepreneurial behaviour. A literature review was completed to identify how university education impacts entrepreneurship. Based on a conceptual model developed, a realist evaluation was conducted to examine the relationship between university education and entrepreneurship. For the evaluation, fifteen student entrepreneurs from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada were interviewed to gain insight into their experience and evaluate which components of university education they found pivotal to their entrepreneurial undertaking. Interviewee responses were assessed to establish collective findings and identify elements of university education that may be modified to promote students’ entrepreneurial behaviour further. The research demonstrates direct alignment between interviewee responses and literature, identifying the promotive influence of an adapting and engaging university environment, decentralized curriculum, diversity of involvement, promotion of intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship, and contributing to community development. As a result of the interviews conducted, the study identifies two unspecified elements within the literature, collaborative education and emphasizing the application of education. These findings provide concrete insight into the impact of university education on entrepreneurship.

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