International entrepreneurship education: Postgraduate business student experiences of entrepreneurship education

Abstract

Purpose

International postgraduate education in business‐related subjects has grown substantially in the UK. Both MBA and specialist Masters’ programmes increasingly offer entrepreneurship as a core or option. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in meeting the expectations and motivations of international postgraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explored four questions through a survey of international students participating in entrepreneurship courses in two Business Schools: What is the typical profile of the international students’ prior education and work experience? What do students expect from studying an entrepreneurship PG course in the UK? What are their experiences of, and learning outcomes from, the entrepreneurship course? What benefits regarding their skills and knowledge do they perceive result from participation?

Findings

The results confirm that career development is a major motivator for international study in the UK. Entrepreneurship can help to address cultural tensions between postgraduate students’ expectations and their experiences of UK business education.

Practical implications

Suggestions are offered for educators on the effective design and delivery of entrepreneurship for international students in the rapidly changing and competitive postgraduate market.

Social implications

Cultural integration, learning effectiveness and linguistic capability need to be addressed in designing learning programmes for international students.

Originality/value

The paper contributes new evidence to the debate on meeting the career expectations and motivations of international postgraduate students participating in entrepreneurship education, especially in the light of new curricular guidance and UK government regulation.

Citation

Rae, D. and Woodier‐Harris, N. (2012), "International entrepreneurship education: Postgraduate business student experiences of entrepreneurship education", Education + Training, Vol. 54 No. 8/9, pp. 639-656. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911211274800