The EntreComp Framework in Practice: A Case Study Linking Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Regional Development

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the interconnections among three pertinent topics in contemporary public policy, particularly within the European context: employability, entrepreneurship, and regional development. Initially, we conduct a bibliometric analysis to identify the primary trends in this field. Subsequently, we present and analyze a case study, namely the Innovation and Talent Retour Program (PIRT 2022), which is a public initiative aimed at attracting university graduates with prior international experience. This program is part of the Entrepreneurial Culture Programs offered by the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, located in Spain. By employing a questionnaire based on the EntreComp framework and involving a sample of university graduates’ beneficiaries of the program, we validate the measurement scale and investigate whether this project contributes to the development of entrepreneurial competencies among the participants. The insights gained from the obtained results inform future programs within the region, as well as other regions undergoing similar processes. This study delves into the theoretical and practical aspects of the role played by universities as key agents in fostering the sustainability of their respective territories. It is concluded that higher education must even assume a more proactive role in the future concerning the employability of its graduates and the overall development of the surrounding region in which it is located.