Imparting entrepreneurial skills among undergraduates in unstable environments: evidence from Iraq, Syria and Yemen

Entrepreneurship skills are the most sought-after skills in the 21st century. This study attempts to explore the extent of imparting entrepreneurial skills among undergraduate students in unstable environments. Three countries are chosen for the study (432 from Iraq, 459 from Syria, and 528 from Yemen), as these economies have witnessed political and economic instability during the last decade. The study followed a case study methodology, using a descriptive approach. The study adopts descriptive statistics, factor analysis and variance analysis for reporting the results. The findings indicate a low to moderate level of entrepreneurial skills being imparted among undergraduates; and demographic characteristics are found to be more influential among Yemeni undergraduates and less influential among Syrian undergraduates. The reliability of the instrument is established in the Iraqi and Yemeni context and not in the Syrian context. However, model fit is established in the Syrian context but not in the case of others. The study recommends efforts being vey essential to change and upgrade entrepreneurship education. The study argues that the role of universities in imparting entrepreneurial skills can redress the gap of the strategies in the educational policies in the three economies.