ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION: A STUDY ON CHALLENGES AND EFFORTS IN INDIA

Abstract

Entrepreneurship plays an influencing role in the economic growth and industrial development of a country as it has immense potential in offering employment opportunities. The factors contributing to our Indian economic development are labour, technology, natural resources, capital and entrepreneurship. Economic liberalization and globalization has brought a dynamic change in the inception of industries and entrepreneurial development in the country. Over last few decades entrepreneurship education has grown rapidly which has reflected in bringing healthy business competition both at national and international level, developing new entrepreneurship curriculum and programme. But the approaches towards entrepreneurship education have varied across colleges and universities. Unfortunately, the present entrepreneurship education in India concentrates on entrepreneurship courses which are similar to the general business courses. But general business management education has no significant influence on entrepreneurial orientation. In this regard, there is a demand for education programs specifically designed to expand students’ knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship. The contents and teaching methods have to be differentiated between entrepreneurship and traditional business courses. In this context, this paper attempts to explain the evolution of entrepreneurship education in India. The objectives of the paper are to give an overview of entrepreneurship education in India, to identify and discuss the challenging confronting entrepreneurship education in India. Moreover, this paper discusses the steps that should be taken by colleges and universities towards promotion of entrepreneurship education.