Engineering students' perceptions of innovation and entrepreneurship competences

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of exploring students’ ideas about innovation and entrepreneurship concepts and the way that they perceive that innovation and entrepreneurship competences are developed or improved by engineering education. Comparisons are made between two samples (N= 119 students) at the School of Design Engineering (Polytechnic University of Valencia) by using a questionnaire-based methodology. The results show that the majority of students reported not receiving enough training in innovation and entrepreneurship competences. Thus a greater attention is to be paid to embed innovation and entrepreneurship competences into the current curricular reform in engineering education in Spain having in mind that an innovative and enterprise culture are vital to promote growth and development, increase productivity, create jobs and reinforce the knowledge based economy in Europe.