Institutions, Education and Entrepreneurship Studies: a Novel Perspective on University Impact (IEES)

Funding level: National

Funding agency: Italian Ministry of University and Research

Abstract:

IEES investigates student entrepreneurship (SE, i.e. “entrepreneurial endeavours undertaken by university students”) and focuses on its diffusion and impact in Italy across its different manifestations and on how higher education institutions (HEIs) ecosystems influence such manifestations. By “students”, the project refers to university students and recent graduates (within 5 years after graduation) and by “entrepreneurship” to the identification and exploitation of new business opportunities through venture creation or within existing organizations. Acquiring entrepreneurial skills and undertaking entrepreneurial activities represent a key enabler of innovation and socio-economic development. Since students’ role in this respect is growing, HEIs around the world are prioritizing SE. However, despite the growing amount of resources allocated by HEIs to stimulate SE, both scholars and policy makers indicate that the diffusion and impact of SE remain to be assessed.

Studying SE in Italy is particularly relevant because the majority of students, who are looking for job opportunities in existing firms or their parents’ business, could promote entrepreneurship in several types of organizations, not only through venture creation. Moreover, SE could favor higher inclusiveness for students from heterogeneous regional contexts. Yet, while the vibrant research stream on SE has documented the role of HEIs in fostering venture creation of students and recent graduates, we need to better understand how different manifestations of SE are diffused considering different forms (not just venture creation but also intrapreneurship in SMEs and corporations as well as succession in family firms and motivations (necessity vs. opportunity driven entrepreneurship); we also need more knowledge about the distinctive impact of SE across its different manifestations, given the lively debate on whether and how SE really matters.

Moreover, scholars call for a better understanding of the SE determinants. In particular, since students’ careers are largely influenced by the university context in which they are embedded, it is important to know how SE manifestations are shaped by HEIs ecosystems. These gaps lead to the following research questions, addressed through a multilevel approach: RQ1: What is the diffusion and impact of SE manifestations? RQ2: How do HEI ecosystems characteristics drive different manifestations of SE? IEES expects to contribute to entrepreneurship theory and SE literature and to provide valuable insights for policy makers, university managers and students. The project builds upon the scientific excellence of the consortium, demonstrated by recognized international research on SE and HEI ecosystems.

Disa role: Partner - Local Unit

DiSA Team Leader: Riccardo Fini

DiSA Team members: Azzurra Meoli

Project Coordinator: Università di Bergamo

Other participants: Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino

Start date 28/09/2023 - End date 27/09/2025

Total project cost: 255.361 euro

Funded by European Union - Next Generation EU