Creating Value Co-creation Hubs between Universities and Enterprises to foster the infusion of Entrepreneurship Education in Europe

<< Background >>BACKGROUND: The participating organizations applied for this project to address critical gaps in Entrepreneurship Education(EE), particularly its limited presence in HEIs, especially in non-business faculties. While EE is commonly offered in business schools, its absence in other disciplines hinders students from developing entrepreneurial competences crucial for success in today’s innovation-driven economy. As defined by the EU Commission (2018), entrepreneurial competence is “the capacity to act upon opportunities and ideas and transform them into value for others; no matter if this value is financial, cultural, or social.” This definition underscores the relevance of entrepreneurship to all fields of study. ENTREHUBS aimed to shift EE from a narrow venture-creation focus to a COLLABORATIVE, VALUE-CREATION APPROACH that emphasizes interdisciplinary engagement and societal impact.NEEDS: ENTREHUBS sought to address the lack of educators equipped to embed EE in their courses, and the limited entrepreneurial opportunities for students in these disciplines. Additionally, the project tackled the insufficient collaboration between academia and business, which is essential for equipping students with practical, real-world skills.<< Objectives >>The ENTREHUBS project aimed to address key challenges in EE by promoting a broader understanding of its value creation approach among educators. A primary objective was the establishment of the ENTREHUBS INTERDISCIPLINARY AND COLLABORATIVE MODEL, fostering awareness and adoption of EE as a flexible methodology relevant across disciplines.Another central goal was to INTEGRATE EE IN NON-BUSINESS DEPARTMENTS. This involved equipping educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively embed ΕΕ into their teaching through the VALUE CO-CREATION HUBS approach, leading to overcoming misconceptions about EE and ensuring its relevance for diverse learning contexts.ENTREHUBS also sought to PILOT ITS INNOVATIVE APPROACH through the development and delivery of an ONLINE SUMMER SCHOOL course. By promoting co-creation between educators, students, and businesses, the project aimed to develop entrepreneurial skills among students while strengthening academia-business links.Additionally, the project aimed to contribute to the broader EU discourse on EE by disseminating its results through targeted events, online presence and publications, advocating for a more inclusive and practical approach to entrepreneurship in HEIs.<< Implementation >>1.RESEARCH ACTIVITIES under WP2: desk research in partner countries, online surveys with 131 educators/entrepreneurial stakeholders and 192 students; focus groups with 78 educators/business representatives about existing EE offers; mapping of case studies; under WP3: online survey with 104 educators + interviews with 20 educators2.EDUCATION APPROACH: Development of ENTREHUBS education model and online depository; ENTREHUBS Toolkit and MOOC; Online Summer School Course3.CO-CREATION Phase: Jointly developed lecture plans through 4 value co-creation hubs, and training for lecturers with 5 modules and Online Course for students4.PILOTING: small-scale pilot with 127 students of ENTREHUBS model, Implementation of the International Training (LTTA) for 40 lecturers of non-business faculties face-to-face and implementation of Summer Course internationally and online with 198 students registered.5.FINETUNING: adaptation of training for lecturers for MOOC, micro-credential experience with credits of students Summer Course6.DISSEMINATION: social media channels, multiplier events and final conference and publication<< Results >>Research revealed that EE outside economic faculties is often optional, needing modular, flexible, and critical content. Concrete OUTPUTS under www.entrehubs.comENTREHUBS Education model: A framework promoting co-creation, design thinking, value creation, and teaching through entrepreneurship, adaptable across disciplines.EE Online Depository: A comprehensive repository of ready-to-use EE resources, including lecture plans, case studies, and co-creation activities tailored for interdisciplinary use.ENTREHUBS Toolkit for educators: Delivered as a face-to-face program (LTTA) and a MOOC, this training features diverse entrepreneurship theories and interdisciplinary teaching materials.Online Course for students: A 15-module course designed for accessibility and interdisciplinarity, and delivered through synchronous and asynchronous Online Summer School.ADDITIONAL RESULT: Increased awareness of broader concept of EE through participation in training and courses by academic staff of non-business departments; Introduction of micro-credentials, offering students tangible recognition of their achievements; Increased networks of HEI with business partners; Infusion of EE on institutional level of participating HEIs.