Entrepreneurship education and country competitiveness: Avenues for future research in the Arab countries

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has emerged as one of the most formidable economic forces that has been shaping the world for the past decades. Hence, many governments fund the creation of entrepreneurship programs and degrees. This has resulted in the expansion of entrepreneurship education as it is an essential gateway by which graduates enter the economic mainstream, which has been driven by entrepreneurship's promise as a vehicle for promoting economic renewal and growth. This paper aims to start a conversation on the importance of entrepreneurship education in the Arab countries, by raising awareness on this issue and its impact on the competitiveness of their economies. It also highlights some of the challenges facing Arab universities and Arab youth which might influence their entrepreneurial intentions. Hence, this study contributes to the entrepreneurship and education literature and might be of interest to academics, researchers, university administrators and policy-makers in the Arab countries.