Today, entrepreneurship is seen as a major driver for innovation, economic growth and job creation, with entrepreneurial competencies highly sought after by practitioners and policy-makers alike. Competencies considered entrepreneurial include knowledge about how entrepreneurs create value; skills in marketing, resource acquisition and opportunity identification; and attitudes such as entrepreneurial passion, self-efficacy, proactiveness and tenacity. There is widespread consensus in the literature that entrepreneurial competencies can be developed through entrepreneurship learning. This study adopts an existing framework for entrepreneurial competencies based on previous research to investigate the role and influence that simulation games can play in the development of cognitive (knowledge and skills) and non-cognitive (attitudes) entrepreneurial competencies. The paper showcases the many benefits of using business simulation as an effective mode for developing entrepreneurial competencies. Such competencies are not only beneficial for individuals working in an entrepreneurial context — but are transferable to any business context, bringing to the fore the importance of entrepreneurial learning for all students to develop such competencies.

Purpose -Although the climate for entrepreneurship in Ireland is positive, with female entrepreneurs making significant economic contributions, a significant weakness of female-owned businesses remaining small is continuously reported. Achieving growth is central to how a business is run and should be viewed from a business-owner perspective rather than a scholarly perspective, whereby the concept of growth is portrayed so frequently in a fragmented manner. Moreover, academic research on entrepreneurial firm growth has centred on growth from a non-gender specific perspective. The purpose of this paper is to investigate, in a meaningful, practical and relevant manner, the process of growth (i.e. defining growth, growth intention, objectives, planning, and strategy) and the measurement of growth in female-owned businesses. Design/methodology/approach -A quantitative research method has been adopted, i.e. an online survey, to investigate all critical issues pertaining to growth amongst female entrepreneurs operating a business for more than five years. Findings -Based on the findings of the study, results indicate the process of growth in female-owned businesses differs from that which is frequently reported. Differences exist between characteristics of female entrepreneurs, which in turn impacts not only how they run their business but more importantly how they pursue growth. Furthermore, research demonstrates significant differences in female-owned businesses with regard to all facets that encompass growth -definition, intention, objectives, planning, strategies employed and the measurement of growth applied. Originality/value -The paper seeks to fill the gap of limited information pertaining to the profile of growth-oriented female entrepreneurs from a practical approach. The findings and suggestions for further research will serve to progress research still in its infancy, not only in Ireland but on an international scale, thus being of critical importance to academia, government support agencies, practitioners, policy makers and female entrepreneurs alike in developing relevant and practical supports to assist in promoting growth-oriented businesses.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the creation of realistic, engaging entrepreneurial competencies in second-level students in the Republic of Ireland through the Student Enterprise Awards (SEA) programme. The focus of the paper will be on the interaction of teachers with the programme. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was adopted, with an email questionnaire fully completed by 101 of the population 300, resulting in a 34% response rate, which was regarded as acceptable. The qualitative approach was 29 semi-structured interviews with teachers and 9 Principals/Head Teachers. Findings The findings suggest that there was strong endorsement by the teachers of the benefits accruing to students in all three areas of knowledge, skills and attitudes. This clearly reinforces the strength of the SEA programme which will become increasingly important for students who are facing uncertain career paths. The programme will help engender students with increased self-confidence, better communication and presentation skills. Better skilled students make them more employable. This programme was primarily delivered by teachers and completed by students who did it on a voluntary basis and have no official recognition of participation. Research limitations/implications The research has identified a notable lack of enterprise-related teacher training in the current education system in the Republic of Ireland. Such training is necessary to ensure effective teaching of entrepreneurship and could bring consistency to the quality of enterprise education received by students in different schools. Students enjoy participating on the programme and see lifelong benefits from doing it, therefore it would be beneficial to incorporate it as a mandatory subject in the curriculum. Originality/value Integrating the theoretical principles underpinning entrepreneurship education, which were presented in the paper, with the empirical teacher findings leads to a number of recommendations that can be adopted by the teacher, Principal/Head Teacher and School Board.

The development of students’ entrepreneurial confidence, aptitude and self−efficacy, irrespective of their discipline, is strongly advocated by researchers, policy makers and the media as an important societal institution, indispensable for economic growth and development, social cohesion, job creation and indeed the changing world of work. This study reinforces the view that entrepreneurship education (EE) is a core, vital research space that warrants continued and consistent investigation given its significant role in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and encouraging entrepreneurial behaviour. The main aim of this study is to evaluate and measure the impact of EE on entrepreneurial confidence, aptitude and self-efficacy. First, it investigates whether participation in EE influences or changes students’ perception of entrepreneurship as a career choice, and their confidence, aptitude and self-efficacy in relation to that career. Second, it investigates what aspects of EE impact students’ entrepreneurial confidence and aptitude. Third, the study investigates the impact of EE on self-efficacy, and students’ belief in their ability and motivation to start an entrepreneurial venture, having completed a specialist EE programme.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a practice‐based entrepreneurship education programme which enhances collaboration between educational institutions and the small business community as a means of producing a more employable, well rounded and skilled graduates.Design/methodology/approachA case description of the business consulting programme operated at the University of Limerick.FindingsThe findings highlight how a practice‐based learning module brings real business learning into the classroom and simultaneously attends to the needs of different internal and external stakeholders by producing a more flexible and employable professional graduate. Furthermore, it creates a more meaningful relationship between education institutions (knowledge producers) and industry (knowledge users).Research limitations/implicationsEducators need to evaluate the benefits of practice‐based learning programmes from the external stakeholder perspective as a basis of identifying more innovative practice‐based learning options.Originality/valueThe paper draws attention to the need for, and suggestions on how educational institutions can be more outward focussed and responsive to the needs of industry when designing educational programmes.

Purpose Entrepreneurial clusters are viewed by academics, practitioners and policy makers as effective economic tools, associated with new business opportunities and innovation potential. Currently, the advancing cluster discussion is concerned with exploring the interplay and interdependence between cluster members, with collaboration increasingly taking centre stage. Despite this, however, the actual nature of collaboration is not fully understood. This study aims to explore collaboration, examining the underlying aspects of cooperative exchange, relationship-building and trust, and networking and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach The methodological design is qualitative, utilising a series of semi-structured interviews with a cohort of cluster members, operating in an urban cooperative. Findings A shared purpose, underpinned by commonly supported value systems, is crucial in the formation of trust-based relationships. Competitive rivalry did not negatively influence motivation for collaboration. Instead, it is superseded by trust-based relationships, which facilitate information flow, acting as an enabler for collaboration. Collaboration, in pursuit of mutually beneficial goals, without fear of opportunism, is enacted through the formation of a number of, and different relationships, dependent on individual goals and/or stage of business development. Informal, rather than formal, relationships are built on respect and unspoken agreements, rather than on written formal contracts. Many “untraded” interdependencies lead to a stable networked cluster environment. Originality/value This empirical study contributes to and advances entrepreneurial cluster literature providing a deeper understanding for academics and policy makers of the interplay between cooperative exchange, relationship-building and trust and networking and knowledge sharing.

The advancing pace of women’s entrepreneurial activity across the globe is a promising trend to fuel economic development and social progress (Fitzsimons & O’Gorman, 2005). Analysis of the reasons why women start a new business, the choice of product/service, and industry sector highlight the home-based female entrepreneur. These entrepreneurs constitutes a segment referred to as the mompreneurs—mothers who establish a business operated from home. Thus, although mompreneurs gain benefits of operating their business from home, they also experience additional challenges. One such issue is their dependence on ICT. To succeed and grow, mompreneurs’ businesses must use ICT as a backbone for the business in an integrated manner. In this article, the author examines the adoption and application of ICT in the mompreneur business, as well as the challenges encountered in its effective use. A specific emphasis is placed on the issue of ICT and its use by the mompreneur in undertaking business transactions and as a means of facilitating small firm growth.