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Is entrepreneurship a remedy for Chinese university graduates’ unemployment under the massification of higher education? A case study of young entrepreneurs in Shenzhen

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  • Kang, Yuyang
  • Xiong, Weiyan

Abstract

Chinese higher education has gained outstanding achievement in expanding its access to the mass population since 1999. However, the mismatch between university curricula and job market requirements leads to increasing unemployment and underemployment of Chinese graduates. In recent years, the central and local governments and universities have viewed entrepreneurship as an efficient means to solve the unemployment and underemployment issues of university graduates. They issued many policies to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young people. However, university graduates are still facing barriers in deciding to start their entrepreneurial journey. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 37 young entrepreneurs in Shenzen. Results show that the respondents encountered barriers from three aspects: personal traits, resources, and culture. With the empirical data collected from the interviews, we aim to enable higher education professionals and innovation policymakers to develop an advanced understanding of the experiences of the new generation of entrepreneurs while reflecting the efforts in coping with the negative effects of the massification of higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang, Yuyang & Xiong, Weiyan, 2021. "Is entrepreneurship a remedy for Chinese university graduates’ unemployment under the massification of higher education? A case study of young entrepreneurs in Shenzhen," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:84:y:2021:i:c:s0738059321000596
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Plant & Jen Ren, 2010. "A Comparative Study Of Motivation And Entrepreneurial Intentionality: Chinese And American Perspectives," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(02), pages 187-204.
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    4. Jacob, W. James & Mok, Ka Ho & Cheng, Sheng Yao & Xiong, Weiyan, 2018. "Changes in Chinese higher education: Financial trends in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 64-85.
    5. Mok, Ka Ho & Jiang, Jin, 2018. "Massification of higher education and challenges for graduate employment and social mobility: East Asian experiences and sociological reflections," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 44-51.
    6. Priscilla Chu, 2000. "The Characteristics Of Chinese Female Entrepreneurs: Motivation And Personality," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(01), pages 67-84.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Johanna Pangeiko Nautwima & Asa Romeo Asa & Sulaiman Olusegun Atiku, 2023. "Testing Unemployment–Entrepreneurship Nexus in Namibia Using the Schumpeterian Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
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    4. Shu Meng & Xin Gao & Lianfeng Duan, 2022. "Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic and Developing a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Theory and Practice of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policies in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-20, July.

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