Theory and practice in entrepreneurship education

Citation

Matlay, H. (2012), "Theory and practice in entrepreneurship education", Education + Training, Vol. 54 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2012.00454haa.001

Theory and practice in entrepreneurship education

Article Type: Guest editorial From: Education + Training, Volume 54, Issue 8/9.

As Guest Editor of a long series of double special issues in Education+Training, I rejoice at the completion of another exciting publication season. This is my 13th double special issue on various aspects relating to education and training in the context of entrepreneurship and small business development. In many ways, I feel both fortunate and privileged for my long association with Emerald Group Publishing Limited and the team of professionals behind its large portfolio of journals. My connection with this journal goes back a long time, to my undergraduate and postgraduate days at the University of Warwick, during the heady days of the early 1980s. As an undergraduate student, I would eagerly anticipate the arrival of each issue of Education+Training at Westwood Library, where I would indulge in reading its features, photocopy the most relevant articles and annotate these with thoughts, ideas and responses. Occasionally, I would draft titles and abstracts of future articles that I planned to publish in it. But, as an international small business consultant, I had a large portfolio of businesses to run and many enterprises to support and develop. My opportunity to contribute did not materialise for some time, not until my final year of my doctoral studies. In 1997, as an early stage academic, I started my publishing apprenticeship in this journal and in 1999 I won my first Best Paper Award for my second article in Education+Training. The same year I met Dr Rick Holden, the Editor of the journal, at an international conference on training and human resource development. During the gala dinner, I approached him with an idea about a double special issue on education, training and entrepreneurship in small businesses. The first was published to great acclaim in 2000 and we decided to publish a second double issue in 2001 (see Matlay, 2008). During the same year, I accepted the challenge of becoming the Editor of a newly acquired Emerald publication, the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (JSBED). Neither Rick nor I could have foreseen at that time that my tentative first double special issue would continue its successful record of uninterrupted publication for 13 consecutive years.

Beginning with 2008, I decided to focus upon entrepreneurship education as a new theme for these special issues. In the absence of a specialised Emerald journal dedicated to aspects related to this emergent area of research, a regular feature to support the dissemination of new and innovative research in entrepreneurship education presented itself as both original and challenging opportunity for us. Unless they have some editorial experience, few readers of our journal can appreciate the complexity, hard work and strategic planning that goes into the completion and delivery of a special issue of this size. Time wise, it can take up to two years and on occasion longer to plan, referee and submit a double special issue. I have built upon initial publishing experiences and successes to develop a strategy of commissioning articles from well-known experts and authorities in this relatively new field of academic endeavour as well as from beginners and newcomers to entrepreneurship education. Due to a growing body of quality submissions, we also included contributions that were sent for review to Education+Training and which were deemed suitable for consideration and publication in these special issues. In terms of topics, we published contributions that focused on a wide variety of established as well as emergent aspects relating to entrepreneurship education, training and learning. On occasions, we also published articles on controversial aspects and opened up the field to informed debate and research development. I am pleased to hear, at various international events, that over the years, these special issues have provided an early and empirically rigorous outlet to what has become a new and exciting research and teaching topic.

In total, there are 11 articles included in the 2012 special issue, ten research papers and one “viewpoint” feature which challenges some of the well-established paradigms in entrepreneurship education. The variety of perspectives, approaches and methodologies presented in this special issue evidences both the extent and depth of the entrepreneurship education field of research. The wide contextual base of this special issue presents readers, practitioners, educators and students with a rich portfolio of empirically rigorous material that, individually and collectively, makes a significant contribution to a growing body of specialised knowledge. A number of individuals have contributed directly and indirectly to the planning and delivery of this double special issue. As customary, I would like to extend my gratitude to authors, referees, advisers and also to the members of the editorial and production teams at Emerald Publishing Group for their hard work and commitment.

Harry MatlayGuest Editor

Reference

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