Do Business Administration degrees encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen connection with business incubators?

First, this paper aims to study the extent to which students in business administration degrees are aware of the characteristics of the business ecosystem. Second, the degree of knowledge of the benefits resulting from the interaction between the university-based business incubators and the universities are studied.

To focus the discussion, a survey is conducted, asking students their preferences as future professionals, as well as their knowledge about specific sources of financing, namely, venture capital and crowdfunding and other networks useful to foster the creation of companies such as business incubators.

Results reveal that the students under study mostly prefer to work as employees in a company. Additionally, these results suggest a poor knowledge from students regarding specific aspects related to entrepreneurship and, more specifically, business incubators. These empirical results underline the need to shift the focus of subject programmes towards a greater focus on entrepreneurship. Additionally, the results also draw attention to the need of fostering the relationship between business incubators and universities, so that students become aware of the support that these networks can provide to entrepreneurs in the early stages of business projects.

The data analysis for this study is built based on a survey of students attending specific finance courses at a Spanish public university. It is worth noting that in this study we have based on the supply side whereby future research might focus on the point of view given by the firm’s recruitment of business administration students. In addition, to strengthen the conclusions drawn from this study, further research should increase the sample period and the outcomes achieved at other universities in different regions.

In terms of policy implications, the empirical findings highlight the relevance of understanding the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programmes, given the budgetary expenditure involved in entrepreneurship education.

The relevance of the issue has been highlighted through a literature review of the past 10 years. In terms of policy implications, the empirical findings highlight the relevance of understanding the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programmes, given the budgetary expenditure involved in entrepreneurship education.