Fostering doctoral entrepreneurship education in Germany

摘要

Purpose - To date, entrepreneurship education mainly targets pupils of different age groups as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Despite a growing interest in entrepreneurship there are few doctoral programs solely dedicated to it. Doctoral education is a crucial element to develop qualified scholars in the field, especially in countries without a strong tradition in entrepreneurship education. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present and discuss a doctoral program in high-tech entrepreneurship in Germany as a good-practice case for establishing such programs. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a single-case study. Both authors were involved in the program in different roles. One played a leading part in designing and running it, the other was recruited into it. Empirically, the case is based on program documentation, personal accounts, as well as communication with other people involved in the program. Findings - Success factors for establishing a postgraduate entrepreneurship education program include cooperation between different academic institutions, entrepreneurial and established companies, as well as government agencies. Research limitations/implications - This paper draws heavily on the authors' personal experiences and reflections. Thus, a potential point of criticism is possible bias. Yet, the personal involvement provides unique insights which would otherwise have been difficult to obtain. Practical implications - Some success factors as well as challenges in setting up and running similar programs are provided. Originality/value - The value of this paper lies in a detailed account of the case of putting in place a unique high-technology postgraduate entrepreneurship program. The paper broadens the focus of the entrepreneurship education literature.