Pioneering the Path to Success: An Analysis of the Challenges in Entrepreneurial Education

Prior research contends that students who receive entrepreneurial education are more likely to launch their enterprises. Early interventions are lauded to expand students’ options and enable them to build on their knowledge. However, implementing entrepreneurial education in secondary schools is difficult and fraught with challenges. Educators struggle with student engagement, relevant content, and the absence of intuitive tools. Prior research suggests that the challenges centre on students’ attitudes, a paucity of pedagogical resources to meet the specific needs of educators and their students, and systems-related issues. However, it is unclear whether these experiences are uniform in secondary schools across Europe. To uncover the challenges and address potential issues, we conducted a qualitative analysis comprising 29 secondary school teachers in Ireland, Spain, and Turkey. Structured interviews and focus groups were conducted to elicit user experiences, insights and real-world stories. Thematic analysis was used to identify the common challenges faced by all participants. Our analysis revealed that systems limitations and pedagogical challenges were the most significant obstacles, followed by students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurial education.