The potential of VR technology in entrepreneurial soft skills education: an exploratory pilot study on future student entrepreneurs

Title (eng)
The potential of VR technology in entrepreneurial soft skills education: an exploratory pilot study on future student entrepreneurs
Author
Armando Javier Carias-Henriquez
Advisor
Liliya Satalkina
Evaluator
Orla Byrne
Description (eng)
This pilot study explores the potential of integrating virtual reality (VR) technology into entrepreneurship education to enhance students' entrepreneurial soft skills. Despite growing interest in VR as an educational tool, its impact on developing essential entrepreneurial competencies—such as opportunity recognition, creativity, and innovativeness—remains underexplored. This research aimed to explore VR's potential in fostering entrepreneurial soft skills (RQ1) and to assess the complexities of its implementation (RQ2). Employing a qualitative-dominant partially mixed-methods (QDPMM) exploratory design, the study involved pre- and post-training tests, surveys, focus groups, and interviews with students and other directly concerned stakeholders. Thirteen students from Poznan University of Economics and Business (Poland) took part in a 4-hour training based on a VR environment for entrepreneurial mindset development, while experts in entrepreneurial education, and VR development, joint from UCD (Ireland), Trinity College (Ireland), PUEB (Poland), and UWK (Austria). Findings suggest that VR integration might increase students' self-confidence and awareness in opportunity recognition, creativity, and innovativeness. While quantitative results lacked statistical significance due to study limitations, qualitative feedback indicated an activation of the entrepreneurial mindset and perceived skill development among students. However, challenges such as high costs, technical limitations, and the need for institutional readiness were also highlighted by consulted experts. Future research should focus on refining VR training modules, expanding sample sizes, improving data collection instruments, and exploring the interplay between training content, and delivery. These insights aim to inform the development of VR-enhanced entrepreneurship education, fostering a new generation of innovative and confident student entrepreneurs.
Keywords (eng)
Virtual RealityEntrepreneurship EducationSoft Skills
Type (eng)
Master theses
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/o:5249
Date created
2024
License
All rights reserved