The efficacy of entrepreneurship education: perspectives of Irish graduate entrepreneurs

This paper presents an analysis of the views of Irish graduate entrepreneurs on the efficacy of entrepreneurship education in fostering their development as entrepreneurs. It answers three key questions: (a) what was the graduate entrepreneurs’ experience of undergraduate entrepreneurship education; (b) what was the graduate entrepreneurs’ experience of graduate entrepreneurship education; and (c) to what extent did entrepreneurship education prepare the graduate entrepreneurs to start their own business? The authors find that graduate entrepreneurs benefit from entrepreneurship education, particularly at graduate level, when it is more relevant, engaging and applied. They conclude that entrepreneurship education can be enhanced through experiential learning and the authentic experience of both students and lecturers