Author(s): Adri Du Toit
The importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in students is often highlighted in entrepreneurship education research. The entrepreneurial mindset of university lecturers who facilitate entrepreneurship education, has, however, received little attention. The purpose of this study was to explore the entrepreneurial mindset of university lecturers and how this could impact their beliefs regarding and facilitating of entrepreneurship education. An exploratory case study was conducted in this qualitative research design. Lecturers in one faculty at a South African university were invited to anonymously complete an online questionnaire. ATLAS. Ti software was used to analyse data thematically, to provide insights into these lecturers’ perceptions about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education, and ultimately their own entrepreneurial mindset. The findings indicate that most lecturers view entrepreneurship education as only contributing to self-employment or business development. Few lecturers were aware of the broader value-creation purpose of entrepreneurship education, and how this could contribute to their students’ education. The perceived benefits that entrepreneurship education can contribute to the preparation of students are underdeveloped and needs to be promoted. Bolstering lecturers’ knowledge and understanding of the expanded value-creation purpose of entrepreneurship education contributes to a more positive opinion and mindset regarding entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. It also offers more insights into how they could embed such learning in their existing university modules. These aspects must be included in professional development programmes for lecturers involved in entrepreneurship education to better prepare them for the effective facilitation of such learning.