(599)YOUNG BUSINESS EXPLORERS: AN INITIATIVE THAT PROMOTES THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

摘要

The importance of entrepreneurship has grown significantly over recent years. This study explores theboundaries arising when entrepreneurship serves as point of connection between academia andbusinesses. Using this approach, a group of Spanish students were challenged to develop aninnovative and viable business idea as though it was to be implemented professionally. The contestwas presented and real-life professional activities were scheduled (networking, seminars, visits, …)under the umbrella of an International Program, known as Young Business Explorers, in order toexploit the boundaries entrepreneurship offers when it is considered from an international perspective.Specifically, the university-industry collaboration is strengthened by the entrepreneurship project putinto practice and after the first experience of the contest a positive impact was identified asparticipants attribute value to the opportunity of meeting their proposed goals in real scenarios.Moreover, creativity, risk assumption and proactivity are enhanced, all of which are attributes highlyvalued by companies.