HOI research | University policies can boost graduate student entrepreneurship – but awareness is not enough
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Universities are launchpads for student entrepreneurship
In today’s rapidly evolving job market, many students are considering entrepreneurship as an alternative career path. Universities are increasingly expected to nurture this ambition by fostering an environment that encourages business creation.
While many institutions offer entrepreneurship courses and incubators, their ability to actively promote these resources and make them accessible to students is less explored.
How proactive policies influence student entrepreneurship
The researchers aimed to understand how proactive university policies—specifically through Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs)—can enhance student engagement in entrepreneurship.
By conducting a RCT (Randomized Control Trial) experiment with graduate students from a major Italian university, they examined whether targeted outreach efforts, such as direct emails, workshops, and one-on-one guidance, had an impact on students’ perception of their university’s support for entrepreneurship.
According to House of Innovation researcher Maria Cecilia Flores, "one of the biggest challenges was ensuring that students actually noticed and engaged with the information provided by the university. In other words: Simply having entrepreneurship programs isn’t enough. Universities need to proactively reach students in ways that capture their interest.”
The future of university-based entrepreneurship support
This research highlights that universities can play a crucial role in fostering student entrepreneurship - but passive support is not enough. To maximize impact, universities should focus on interactive engagement, using social media, face-to-face meetings, and trusted professors as ambassadors for entrepreneurship programs.
Future studies should explore how universities can go beyond awareness-building to encourage actual startup creation, perhaps through stronger mentorship programs, networking opportunities, or financial incentives.
Key research findings
- Increased awareness of entrepreneurship programs: Students who received direct communication from the university’s KTO were significantly more aware of the available support for startups.
- Improved perception of the university’s entrepreneurial environment: Those in the program viewed their university as more supportive of entrepreneurship compared to students who were not included in the initiative.
- Limited impact on actual startup participation: While awareness and perceptions improved, the study found that communication efforts alone did not strongly increase students’ direct involvement in starting a business.
Meet the researchers
- Maria Cecilia Flores: House of Innovation, ºÚÁÏÍø.
Maria.Cecilia.Flores@hhs.se
