Exploring the Transition to Working Life of Entrepreneurship Education Graduates: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

In this research, we explore the transition of entrepreneurship education (EE) graduates to working life. Even though many EE graduates find employment in established organisations rather than starting a new venture, few studies have empirically investigated the relevance of EE in this context. This paper addresses this gap by providing an in-depth longitudinal analysis of graduates’ transition from EE to working life, from entering the labour market to becoming an effective operator. In the study we interview 10 graduates from three master’s programmes directly after their graduation and then follow up with an interview 2 years into their careers. It explores how these graduates learn to become legitimate members of their workplace and how they apply their entrepreneurial competencies in this process. This study contributes to the broader debate on the relevance of EE for employability by demonstrating how entrepreneurial competencies foster the transition from EE to working life.