Perception of the quality of educational system for entrepreneurship – comparative analysis

Abstract

High-quality entrepreneurial education has a positive influence on SMEs’ development, the establishment of start-ups, business innovation, and many macroeconomic indicators. The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the quality of the educational system from the standpoint of SME owners and managers. The analysis is aimed at detecting connections between respective respondent categories based on their region, type of business, industry, length of business operation, attained employees´ education, and gender. The comparative analysis aims at examining the differences between Czech and Slovak SME entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the educational system quality. The research results prove that selected differential viewpoints enable us to see the differences in how the quality of high school and university education is perceived, partially due to managers’ diverse demands as to the workforce in their respective enterprises, its integration into the work process, and the job position. This micro-view is complemented by a macro-view – demands and requirements regarding the workforce are differentiated also by the size of the enterprise, its type, length of operation, etc. in both countries. The results provide valuable information for the authors of economic and educational policies, as well as for regional strategic development planning. They also emphasize the importance of a systematic approach in solving the issue of entrepreneurial education and the need to ensure support for enterprises on all levels of education, including lifelong learning. © 2021, Budapest Tech Polytechnical Institution. All rights reserved.