Entrepreneurship education in a virtual context

Numerous reports and research studies emphasize the significance of entrepreneurship, especially as a solution to challenges outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda. Interest in entrepreneurship education has significantly increased in recent decades. Experiential learning and the context in which learning occurs are crucial pedagogically, yet their diversity and complexity receive limited attention in the literature. This chapter aims to explore the learning context of an online entrepreneurship education programme. By inductively following principles for qualitative thematic analysis outlined in the Gioia methodology, and analysing 196 students’ responses to six open-ended questions about their virtual learning experience, the authors seek further insights into how the virtual space impacts the entrepreneurial learning process. In their data, they identify three dimensions: the course platform, barriers to engagement, and learning outcomes. The interplay of these dimensions leads them to present a dynamic model of how entrepreneurial learning is constructed within the virtual space. Their results can guide educators in designing their virtual learning spaces, and they particularly recommend considering both physical and psychological amenities in the design.