The Future of Entrepreneurship: Tackling Challenges in Entrepreneurial Education

The path to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs is fraught with challenges. This topic was the focus of one of the EIT Health Healthcare Hackers series events this year. The discussion titled The Entrepreneur of the Future emphasised the urgent need to rethink how entrepreneurial skills are taught and developed, shedding light on educational gaps, alignment with industry needs, and inclusivity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The panel underscored the limitations of existing educational frameworks in preparing students for the demands of entrepreneurship. Lucyna Wozniak, Vice-Rector of Research, Development, and International Relations at the Medical University of Lodz, in Poland, pointed out the limitations in many study systems, particularly in medical education. Overregulation, she noted, often hinders the inclusion of essential skills like leadership, problem-solving, and communication in curricula. Thus, these systems often fail to include essential leadership, transversal, and business skills in their curricula.

“The critical challenge is communication – between teachers and students, researchers and companies, research and community”, Wozniak explained. “This soft skill is necessary not only to transfer knowledge but also to gain insight into our activities in common society.” She emphasised the need for academic institutions to collaborate with industry stakeholders to integrate business knowledge, such as strategic management and project planning, alongside technical expertise. While promising initiatives like EIT Health’s programmes progress, broader systemic changes are needed.

Insight from industrial point of view

Gerda Achzet, CEO of art2innovate, added an industry perspective, highlighting how initiatives like bootcamps, hackathons, and mentorship opportunities provide students with valuable real-world experience. However, aligning academic research with industry needs remains challenging, particularly due to communication gaps.

Achzet stressed the importance of nurturing creativity and “out-of-the-box” thinking to help young professionals innovate. “We must coach, mentor, and make them feel brave enough to take the first steps toward starting their own business,” she noted. She added that programmes like the EIT Health Sci-Fi Programme are critical in providing coaching and collaboration opportunities for start-ups.

Business and Student Perspective

Olga Petrovic, CEO of Neofunction, shared her journey as a successful entrepreneur, emphasising the importance of blending theoretical knowledge with practical experience. She advocated for integrating business education into higher education to teach essential entrepreneurial skills such as deal-making and business management.

Petrovic highlighted resilience and adaptability as key traits for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. “Failure is a learning opportunity,” she remarked, stressing the need for continuous learning and building strong connections within the entrepreneurial community.

Ana Rita Ribero, a current PhD student, discussed the benefits of entrepreneurial-focused course, such as those emphasising market analysis and consumer needs. While she acknowledged progress in universities’ openness to entrepreneurship, she called for greater integration and mentorship to support students in transitioning from academia to industry.

The Role of Women and Inclusivity

Aligned with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the webinar also spotlighted the importance of gender inclusivity in entrepreneurship. While acknowledging the valuable contributions of men, panellists stressed the need for mentorship programmes to inspire and empower women in science and business and create spaces where women can share successes and challenges.

The discussion concluded with several impactful insights: courage, adaptability, and continuous learning are essential to entrepreneurial success. Panelists urged participants to stay informed about market trends, embrace innovation, recognise when it’s time to let go of a project and seek guidance when needed.