Introduction

Citation

Matlay, H. (2015), "Introduction", Education + Training, Vol. 57 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2015-0065

Introduction

Article Type: Introduction From: Education + Training, Volume 57, Issue 8/9.

Researching enterprise and entrepreneurship education

This double special issue is the 16th consecutive, annual publication in a long and successful series of specialised papers to appear in Education+Training, commencing with 2000. Within a large and diverse international community of academics, researchers, students and practitioners, the reputation of this series is now well established. It is based not only upon longevity and continuity, but also on its innovative and cutting edge approach to the dissemination of an impressive range of theoretical, practical and cross-disciplinary articles in the emergent field of education and training research. Importantly, the series is known and acknowledged for its empirical rigorousness, which it achieves through multiple, independent and anonymous refereeing of individual articles as well as the special issue in its entirety. For those interested to know more about it, the genesis and strategic development of the double special issue in Education+Training has been detailed elsewhere (see Matlay, 2008a).

I have previously highlighted a growing obsession with entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial outcomes, at both national and international level (Matlay, 2005, 2006). This is particularly visible amongst governments in industrially developed and developing nations, as well as in countries in transition (Matlay, 2008b). In addition, there exists a sizeable range of major and minor stakeholder groupings that also claim to have a keen interest in entrepreneurship, as the panacea to economic stagnation and decline (Rae et al., 2014). These include individuals clustered around family, business and community interests as well as socio-economic, educational and political activities. Not surprisingly, such a keen interest in, and focus upon, entrepreneurship has generated an awareness and realization that enterprise and entrepreneurship education could potentially contribute to the development of more and better entrepreneurs to enter an economy (Matlay, 2009). Thus, the recent expansion of enterprise and entrepreneurship education, at all levels of the educational system, should not be perceived as accidental, incidental or unexpected. Interestingly, however, enterprise and entrepreneurship education, as a research topic, has been developing and maturing at a faster pace than that experienced by entrepreneurship or economics. Perhaps the urgency of its development and growth is symptomatic of the economic turbulence experienced during recent times in both domestic and international markets, etc.

Much of the extant research in enterprise and entrepreneurship education, and related themes, can be traced directly and/or indirectly to government inspired and/or funded initiatives (Matlay, 2011). Independent research is also expanding at a fast rate and contributes considerably to a more rounded and better informed debate. Regretfully, there exists a marked paucity of practitioner input, dissemination and representation amongst the many articles and commentaries that appear in peer-refereed journals. Nevertheless, a vast proportion of practitioner contributions appear in Education+Training and the journal has been credited with facilitating the voice of most, if not all, the major stakeholders that actively promote enterprise and entrepreneurship education. As the guest editor of the double special issue, I fully support the publication of empirically rigorous articles on enterprise and entrepreneurship education. We welcome, support and facilitate the dissemination of papers that focus on a variety of enterprise and entrepreneurship education aspects, originating in industrially advanced, developing and transitional countries. These articles aim to make a significant and empirically rigorous contribution to the rapidly expanding body of knowledge in this important topic of research.

The 16th double special issue in Education+Training comprises 12 papers which, individually and collectively, offer a critical perspective on diverse aspects and contexts associated with enterprise and entrepreneurship education. The special issue is designed to be convergent, rather than divergent in nature. It seeks to make a significant contribution to the development of conceptual, contextual and practical aspects of this fast moving topic of research. In planning, developing and completing the double special issue, I have benefited considerably from the advice, expertise and guidance of a number of individuals, too many to mention by name. I wish to thank all contributors, referees and advisors for their hard work and continued commitment to high standards of academic, research and practitioner publishing. Thanks are also due to Martin McCracken, the editor of Education+Training, for his support and to Sophie Barr, Senior Content Editor, for her assistance during the final stages of the submission process.

References

Matlay, H. (2005), “Researching entrepreneurship and education, part 1: what is entrepreneurship and does it matter?”, Education + Training, Vol. 47 Nos 8/9, pp. 665-667

Matlay, H. (2006), “Researching entrepreneurship and education, part 2: what is entrepreneurship education and does it matter?”, Education + Training, Vol. 48 Nos 8/9, pp. 704-718

Matlay, H. (2008a), “Vocational education and training in SMEs: the role of ‘Education + Training’ in promoting quality research”, Education + Training, Vol. 50 No. 1, pp. 67-70

Matlay, H. (2008b), “The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial outcomes”, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 382-396

Matlay, H. (2009), “Entrepreneurship education in the UK: a critical analysis of stakeholder involvement and expectations”, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 355-368

Matlay, H. (2011), “The influence of stakeholders on developing enterprising graduates in UK HEIs”, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 166-182

Rae, D., Matlay, H., McGowan, P. and Penaluna, A. (2014), “Freedom or prescription: the case for curriculum guidance in enterprise and entrepreneurship education”, Industry & Higher Education, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 387-398

About the Guest Editor

Professor Harry Matlay is the Dean of Research at Global Independent Research, Coventry, UK. He specializes in entrepreneurship and small business development, entrepreneurship education, training and learning. Previously, he worked in Senior Research positions at the SME Centre, Warwick University Business School, Birmingham City Business School and the University of the West of Scotland Business School.