Articulating entrepreneurial competencies in the undergraduate curricular

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the level enterprise language is articulated within programme level documentation, and then, using EntreComp (Bacigalupo et al., 2016) as a framework, investigate the extent by which curricula is underpinned by enterprise competencies. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative approach firstly through a desk analysis of undergraduate programme documentation across one UK University ( n =60), followed by face-to-face interviews with programme leaders ( n =25). Findings Findings revealed a lack of reference to enterprise in programme documentation as well as a confusion of the language associated with enterprise and entrepreneurship. However, all participants in the study were able to articulate opportunities afforded to students within the programme to practise entrepreneurial competencies from the EntreComp framework. Originality/value Whilst the limitation of this study is that it has been carried out in just one university, the practical implication of these findings provide supporting evidence that the EntreComp framework can be used to build a whole programme approach to embedding enterprise. This remains to be tested in future research. As the EntreComp framework is relatively new, then this piece of research is original as it is amongst the first to report on the framework.