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Promoting Employability in Higher Education: A Case Study on Boosting Entrepreneurship Skills

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  • Cristina Pardo-Garcia

    (Department of Applied Economics, Universitat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Maja Barac

    (Department of Applied Economics, Universitat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

How can higher education increase the employability of university students? We present a case study on an innovative training itinerary aimed to promote the participation of teaching staff to stimulate the creativity of students and enhance their employability skills. Students acquire the entrepreneurship competences by applying the problem-solving methodology to their innovative projects based on sustainable development. The participation in the contest shows a growing importance, with topics ranging from the more technical ones, such as nutrition innovation, science innovation, or sustainability, to the social projects, related to social services, inclusion, or services against gender violence, harassment, and bullying. The percentage of multidisciplinary teams increased from 38% in 2015 to 76% in 2019 and even more in finalist teams, a positive trend in improving soft skills. According to some testimonies, the acquisition of these entrepreneurship competences partially compensates for students’ lack of professional experience by enriching their curriculum vitae (CV) and, for some students, lays the groundwork for establishing a real business after their participation in the contest.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Pardo-Garcia & Maja Barac, 2020. "Promoting Employability in Higher Education: A Case Study on Boosting Entrepreneurship Skills," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4004-:d:357819
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    2. Amr Abdullatif Yassin & Norizan Abdul Razak & Yousef A. M. Qasem & Murad Abdu Saeed Mohammed, 2020. "Intercultural Learning Challenges Affecting International Students’ Sustainable Learning in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. J. Sevilla-Bernardo & Teresa C. Herrador-Alcaide & Blanca Sanchez-Robles, 2024. "Successful entrepreneurship, higher education and society: from business practice to academia," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Cristian Virgil MARINAS & Simona Irina GOIA & Ana-Alexandra GORA & Ramona Stefania IGRET & Monica ROMAN & Simona Catalina STEFAN, 2021. "A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Relationship Internship €“ Skills €“ Employability," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(1), pages 669-681, November.
    5. Hendrys Tobar-Muñoz & Juan G. Cárcamo & Henner Solarte & Christiam Ventes & Jorge H. Mesa, 2020. "Videogames and Innovation: Fostering Innovators’ Skills in Online-Learning Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-28, November.
    6. Xiyuan Xiang & Jing Wang & Zehai Long & Yangjie Huang, 2022. "Improving the Entrepreneurial Competence of College Social Entrepreneurs: Digital Government Building, Entrepreneurship Education, and Entrepreneurial Cognition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Nazanin Naderiadib Alpler & Huseyin Arasli, 2020. "Can Hindrance Stressors Change the Nature of Perceived Employability? An Empirical Study in the Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-13, December.

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