ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS AND ACTIVITY OF STUDENTS AT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS SCHOOL OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS

Abstract

Entrepreneurship plays a fundamental role in economic and social development. Several studies have shown that enterprises started by young people, especially university graduates, have a higher growth rate than firms ran by people belonging to older age groups. Young people are more likely to look for innovative areas and can create more added value. Therefore the university students' career ideas and entrepreneurial activity is an important research topic.

The Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS) project has been surveying these topics since 2003. The surveys were conducted every two years, the latest in 2018, when 208,636 students completed the questionnaire in 54 countries, Hungarian students contributed to the success of the inquiry with 9,667 completed surveys. Hungary joined the program in 2006, and Budapest Business School participated in all surveys.

Budapest Business School was one of the first universities in Hungary to recognize the importance of entrepreneurship, and thus the importance of entrepreneurship education. It has implemented a number of programs in recent years that directly or indirectly support students in acquiring business-related knowledge, in developing and implementing entrepreneurial ideas (Team Academy, Collab – Business plan during a week, StartLab).

The article describes changes in the entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial activity of students at the Budapest Business School over the last 10 years, and then summarizes the socio-economic changes and university initiatives that have an impact on the areas analysed. The input to the analysis is provided by the 5 databases of the GUESSS research (data from 2008-2018).