Education through entrepreneurship: conditions for enhanced learning and reduced dropout

Previous research shows that a student drops out from an educational programme when the student no longer masters the challenges posed by the study. Entrepreneurship has been suggested as an appropriate learning device to increase learning, thereby reducing drop-out in educational programmes. The purpose of this study is to advise educators about how to use education through entrepreneurship as an instrument to enhance learning thereby leading to reduced student dropout. This study discusses the premises for such an application of entrepreneurship in educational programmes. The presented participatory action research case study outlines a BSc Business Administration course offered to first year students. The educational programme uses entrepreneurship as a means of increasing learning in order to achieve reduced dropout. The findings indicate that the more advanced student profits from engaging in real-life business situations, whereas less advanced students benefit from more detailed guided approaches in order to learn about issues in business administration.