ENTREHUBS is an ambitious European project designed to transform entrepreneurship education (EE) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically targeting departments beyond traditional business and economics faculties. The project aims to establish an interdisciplinary, collaborative model that connects academia with industry, fostering entrepreneurial skills and mindsets among students. By doing so, ENTREHUBS seeks to position universities as hubs of entrepreneurial activity and innovation, empowering students across all fields to pursue their ideas and turn them into value-creating ventures.

Scope and Objectives

ENTREHUBS is built around a unique educational model focused on value creation, which enhances connections between academia and the business world. This approach aims to instill entrepreneurial behaviors and competencies in students, making entrepreneurship an accessible and appealing career path. To achieve this, ENTREHUBS has developed several key initiatives:

1. ENTREHUBS Educational Model: This model provides HEIs with a structured framework that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. By embedding EE across various disciplines, it enables educators from all academic backgrounds to integrate entrepreneurial principles into their courses.
2. Blended Training Program for Educators: ENTREHUBS offers a toolkit and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to train educators on designing and delivering EE programs. This training equips them to foster entrepreneurial mindsets in students, using practical, co-creation methods that prioritize value creation.
3. Online Summer School: ENTREHUBS provides online mini-courses through a summer school program aimed at igniting entrepreneurial behaviors in students. Through this initiative, students can access resources, mentorship, and tools that encourage proactive problem-solving and innovation.

Key Project Partners and Contributions

ENTREHUBS is a collaborative effort with several key partners, each contributing unique expertise to ensure a successful integration of EE across European universities:

• Karlshochschule International University (KARLS): Known for its focus on social innovation and socio-ecological transformation, KARLS connects students with local companies for hands-on projects, allowing them to bridge theory and practice.
• Stimmuli for Social Change: Stimmuli develops educational programs that embed entrepreneurial thinking and behavior shifts. They focus on social innovation, capacity building, and research, bringing a deep understanding of sustainable educational practices.
• University of Macedonia: With strengths in economics, administration, and applied informatics, the university promotes EE through interdisciplinary research and real-world collaboration, creating a robust support system for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• RESET (Research and Education for Social Empowerment and Transformation): RESET focuses on social innovation, engaging local communities and organizations to create impactful solutions. Their expertise lies in social inclusion, transformative dialogue, and youth empowerment.
• BOSEV (Büyük Ortadoğu Sağlık ve Eğitim Vakfı): Based in Turkey, BOSEV supports EE initiatives through training, mentorship, and digital resources, leveraging a wide network of educational and industry partners.
• University of Cyprus’ Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E): C4E provides students with training, mentorship, and resources to help turn ideas into viable businesses, further reinforcing the culture of entrepreneurship in Cyprus.

Findings: The Importance of Integrating EE in Academia

The ENTREHUBS project has highlighted the critical need to integrate entrepreneurship into the academic landscape, particularly in non-business faculties. Key insights include:

• Student Engagement: When students from diverse fields are exposed to entrepreneurial thinking, they exhibit higher levels of engagement and creativity. ENTREHUBS found that students were eager to explore entrepreneurial solutions to real-world problems when provided with the right tools and support.
• Breaking Down Silos: Embedding EE across various disciplines encourages cross-functional collaboration and the sharing of diverse perspectives, which are vital for innovation.
• Cultivating Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a mindset rather than a career path exclusive to business students. ENTREHUBS’s experiential learning model emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and creativity, essential skills for navigating today's complex job market.

Mobilizing Students Through Practical Entrepreneurship Education

One of ENTREHUBS’s primary goals is to make entrepreneurship a viable option for students in all disciplines. By providing experiential learning opportunities, the project helps students see entrepreneurship as a realistic and rewarding pathway. Here’s how ENTREHUBS aims to mobilize students:

• Experiential Learning: Hands-on projects and interactive workshops enable students to work on real business ideas, fostering a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Value Co-Creation: ENTREHUBS’s approach focuses on value creation rather than profit, encouraging students to develop ideas that benefit society as well as the economy.
• Resource Accessibility: Through online resources, toolkits, and mini-courses, ENTREHUBS provides students and educators with access to the materials they need to start their entrepreneurial journey.

Results and Future Impact

ENTREHUBS has developed several valuable tools for HEIs across Europe:

1. ENTREHUBS Educational Toolbox: A set of resources for educators, including ready-to-use activities, case studies, and co-creation exercises.
2. ENTREHUBS Training Program for HEI Educators: An educator-focused toolkit and MOOC that support the integration of EE across different academic disciplines.
3. ENTREHUBS Online Summer School: Mini-courses and interactive content to help students build entrepreneurial skills and mindsets.

By equipping educators with practical resources and creating entrepreneurial learning opportunities for students, ENTREHUBS is well on its way to achieving its mission of fostering entrepreneurial universities across Europe. As ENTREHUBS continues, its findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of how best to integrate EE into academia, ensuring that students across all disciplines have the opportunity to consider entrepreneurship as a career option and a valuable life skill. For more information please visit the official ENTREHUBS website.