A Systematic Review of the Impacts of Entrepreneurial Support Programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fields

Abstract

Programs dedicated to entrepreneurship education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields have expanded tremendously. However, much remains unknown about the current state of research and practice of these programs. This article presents results from a systematic review designed to explore how Entrepreneurial Support Programs serving science and technology innovators conceptualize and measure individual-level impacts. Results suggest that the intended impacts of programs are often ill-defined. While many programs focus on improving entrepreneurial mindset, the term is frequently not well defined, operationalized, or clearly measured. Likewise, results suggest that understanding the impact of programs is challenging due to the quality of the research or evaluation procedures employed. Finally, results suggest that there is a strong lack of diversity awareness or acknowledgment in the field; the vast majority of the papers did not mention gender, race, or other demographic characteristics. Moving forward, researchers and practitioners have an opportunity to strengthen data-driven work to assess the impact of entrepreneurship support programs through the use of clear definitions, well-documented methods, and assessment instruments with sufficient validity evidence.

Applications of Photovoice-Based Entrepreneurial-Minded Pedagogical Interventions in the Engineering Classroom

“…Similar to the structure of our study, a previous review paper [76] discussed the state of entrepreneurial programs in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields (STEM), identified gaps, and provided recommendations for practitioners and researchers to consider. Previous literature reviews [77][78][79] were explored for the entrepreneurial mindset.…”

Modal finite element correlation for computer aided engineering education

“…Evidence suggests that the use of commercial engineering software packages is among the most important factors for engineering and sciences disciplines. 1 These kinds of software's are important to solve engineering problems not only for research and development purposes but also for the production and maintenance industries. The last-mentioned industries usually employ commercial software to improve the production process, where also are well known that CAD-CAM-CAE tools (computer-aided design, manufacturing, and engineering tools) are essentials during the development process of a new or redesign mechanical product.…”

Work in Progress: Impact of the Entrepreneurial Mindset for Innovative Teaching (EMIT) Academy

“…Driving much of the work in entrepreneurship education, including Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) initiatives, is the concept of entrepreneurial mindset. The term entrepreneurial mindset has a somewhat contentious history, in that there is no agreed upon definition in the literature and the term suffers from construct confusion [14], [15]. The most commonly accepted definition of entrepreneurial mindset is that developed by KEEN, which defines it as the 3Cs: curiosity, connections, and creating value [13].…”