Young Business Explorers: Developing the Entrepreneurial Spirit through Industry-Academia Cooperation

Management education is undergoing continuous and dramatic evolution with the implementation of active learning oriented to enhancing entrepreneurial talent. Our attention centres on a model that integrates both the contents of the degree programme and entrepreneurial career‐ building. As a response to the new needs of today’s society, we propose an international programme called “Young Business Explorers”. This initiative takes the form of a competition that blends creativity, hard-work and willingness to be involved in a continuous learning process, culminating in the presentation of a feasible value-added business idea argued in a business plan. The programme includes a short international trip to learn from real professional experiences. The industry-academia cooperation is strengthened by these interactions and by putting into practice a completed entrepreneurship project, bringing opportunities for both parties. This study provides an experience in the second year of the degree that identifies potential for further growth.