Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2016, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 45-51.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2016.02.006

• Entrepreneurship Education in Universities(高校创业教育 ) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Main Features of the Development of US Entrepreneurship Education and Its Implications

KAN Yue   

  1. College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China
  • Online:2016-05-20 Published:2016-07-05
  • Contact: KAN Yue
  • About author:KAN Yue

Abstract: The United States is seen as a nation where entrepreneurship education originated and prevailed, and after so many years of development, entrepreneurship education in the US has now reached a stage of maturity. The US has built an integrated ecosystem of entrepreneurship education involving multi-stakeholders including government offices, non-governmental organizations, enterprises and educational institutions. The mutual complementation of these independent players ensured the effective operation of this ecosystem. Meanwhile, on the basis of business entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and female entrepreneurship are greatly promoted as a solution to the various social challenges and improvement of socioeconomic conditions for disadvantaged groups. Considering the crucial role of educational institutions in developing the entrepreneurial attitude, skills and behavior for the new generation, a diversified and coherent provision of curriculum, activities and related supporting services has been developed through the K-12 schools and higher education institutions in the US. In the context of the Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the experiences and practices in the US will be beneficial to the further development of entrepreneurship education in China, especially in terms of legal environment, ecosystem, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial curriculum and knowledge entrepreneurship. In line with the requirement of the building for a government ruled by law, a sound system of legislation for innovation and entrepreneurship should be established to create a fair, orderly and sound legal environment. The further development of entrepreneurship education in China should pay more attention to the encouragement of social engagement, support and contribution in order to create a better ecosystem. Another priority should be given to arousing the students’ and citizens’ concern over the social challenges and to developing the social entrepreneurs with the sense of social responsibility, philanthropy and the competences of public services in order to solve social problems by innovative services, products and approaches. Since curriculum is the breakthrough for the development of entrepreneurial sprits and skills, a system of curriculum should be constructed at various levels of education from primary, secondary to higher education. Finally, in the context of information society and knowledge-based economy, with a view to increasing professionalism and scientific and technological values, the entrepreneurship education in higher education institutions should be based on knowledge innovation to encourage the transfer and application of research outcomes.