The development of entrepreneurship at school: the Spanish experience

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encourage entrepreneurship and creativity among primary school pupils than they acquire entrepreneurial skills through running a business.

Design/methodology/approach

A pilot experience has been structured into three large phases: analysis of the starting situation; production of the materials and their application in the classroom; and final evaluation. In order to evaluate this experience, the primary school pupils (8-12-years-old) were interviewed and a questionnaire completed.

Findings

The overall results have been satisfactory and indicated a positive participant reaction to the project that has improved entrepreneurial competencies and the future potential for business start-up.

Research limitations/implications

The research respondents were drawn from one region of Spain, and the pilot experience has been carried out in the Rural Schools Grouped Together (in Spanish: “Colegio Rural Agrupado”).

Practical implications

Recommendations are offered which could help the entrepreneurship education stakeholders increase the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education programmes and actions aimed at promoting firm creation in this area.

Social implications

As this pilot experience aim to increase entrepreneurship as a start-up activity, the improving of entrepreneurial skills serve these pupils so that, in a few years’ time, they can opt to generate wealth and employment endogenously in the towns they come from and so be able to retain the local population.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to knowledge by adding to a limited literature examining the impact of entrepreneurship education within the 8-12 primary school age sector.

Citation

Barba-Sánchez, V. and Atienza-Sahuquillo, C. (2016), "The development of entrepreneurship at school: the Spanish experience", Education + Training, Vol. 58 No. 7/8, pp. 783-796. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-01-2016-0021