title: Entrepreneurship education: relationship between education and entrepreneurial activity.
abstract: The importance of entrepreneurial activity for the economic growth of countries is now well established. The relevant literature suggests important links between education, venture creation and entrepreneurial performance, as well as between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial activity. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide some insights about entrepreneurship education. The meaning of entrepreneurship education is explained, and the significant increase of these educational programmes is highlighted. Literature has been suggesting that the most suitable indicator to evaluate the results of entrepreneurship education is the rate of new business creation. However, some studies indicate that the results of such programmes are not immediate. Therefore, many researchers try to understand the precursors of venture creation, concluding that is necessary to carry out longitudinal studies. Based on an overview of the research published about the existing linkage of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial activity, the main topics studied by different academics are addressed. For the authors, the positive impact of entrepreneurship education puts a double challenge on governments in the future: the increased need of financial funds to support entrepreneurship education and the choice of the correct educational programme.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Research in Management Science (NECE), University of Beira Interior, Beira, Portugal. mraposo@ubi.pt
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raposo
authors.forename: Arminda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: do Paço
mesh_terms: D004493:Education; D016520:Entrepreneurship; D006801:Humans