Article Gold Open Access 2020

Entrepreneurial Profiles at the University: A Competence Approach

Frontiers in Psychology
Journal · Vol. 11 · Art. 612796
Abstract

The Entrepreneurial University plays a central role in entrepreneurial ecosystems and actively influences the development of entrepreneurial human capital, which is a critical asset for many economies. There is thus a requirement for the identification and strengthening of entrepreneurial competences, but no previous studies have included any analysis of these competences in the university context using an approach based on profiles. The present study fills this gap by investigating the existence of different entrepreneurial profiles among students, based on their competences. It also defines key competences that are critical for differentiating between these profiles and improving entrepreneurial competence levels more generally. To meet these objectives, a field research campaign was developed. Data on 1104 students from various degrees and faculties were collected and analyzed using a quantitative methodological approach. The results reveal the existence of four entrepreneurial competence profiles, namely low profile, top profile, social profile, and grit profile. Among as many as 12 possible entrepreneurial competences, the most prominent can explain to a large extent the entrepreneurial profiles of students; these are networking and professional social skills, community engagement, perseverance of effort, and consistency of interest. The results provide evidence of the importance of social capital and grit. In addition to their contribution to the theory in this area and the development of the Entrepreneurial University paradigm, the results are also useful for the design of training strategies aimed at strengthening the levels of competence of students, thereby providing universities with tools to foster the creation of entrepreneurial human capital. © Copyright © 2020 Martínez-Martínez and Ventura.

Keywords

Author Keywords

entrepreneurship Social capital Competence Profiles Entrepreneurial university grit Entrepreneurial competences

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universidad de Málaga, Malaga, Malaga, Spain
Funding & Acknowledgements
Universidad de Málaga, UMA
Funding text 1: This study was supported by the University of Málaga and by the funding of Cátedra Andalucía Emprende 2018–2020, received by the Government of Andalucía (Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad).; Funding text 2: The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful feedback received from the organization of the Third Paper Development Seminar of Seville (2020). We also thank the University of Malaga for facilitating the data collection process, allowing the inclusion of the competence measurement instrument in the student employment platform Talentank. Funding. This study was supported by the University of M?laga and by the funding of C?tedra Andaluc?a Emprende 2018?2020, received by the Government of Andaluc?a (Consejer?a de Econom?a, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad).
Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía
Funding text 1: This study was supported by the University of Málaga and by the funding of Cátedra Andalucía Emprende 2018–2020, received by the Government of Andalucía (Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad).; Funding text 2: The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful feedback received from the organization of the Third Paper Development Seminar of Seville (2020). We also thank the University of Malaga for facilitating the data collection process, allowing the inclusion of the competence measurement instrument in the student employment platform Talentank. Funding. This study was supported by the University of M?laga and by the funding of C?tedra Andaluc?a Emprende 2018?2020, received by the Government of Andaluc?a (Consejer?a de Econom?a, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad).
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