How can the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the University of Stavanger promote more female entrepreneurs?
Master thesis
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https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2775280Utgivelsesdato
2021Metadata
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- Studentoppgaver (Business) [1121]
Sammendrag
In light of the identified gender gap when it comes to entrepreneurship in Norway, this thesisaims to investigate the role of universities in promoting more female entrepreneurs. Theincreased focus on entrepreneurship and the underrepresentation of female entrepreneurs thuscreated the basis for the following research question: “How can the entrepreneurial ecosystemat the University of Stavanger promote more female entrepreneurs?”
The thesis is based on an exploratory research design and a qualitative research method. Theprimary data was collected through qualitative semi structured interviews and analyzed inaccordance with the utilized theory and documents. The 12 participants that were interviewedin this research are all students at the University of Stavanger (UiS). Of the 12 participants,50% are women and 50% are men.
The thesis finds that the entrepreneurial ecosystem at UiS needs to foster women'sentrepreneurial intention (EI) in order to promote more female entrepreneurs. This research hasidentified three measures the entrepreneurial ecosystem at UiS can implement in order todevelop female students EI. These measures are to provide and expose the students with morefemale role models, to enhance the quality and accessibility of courses that are offered and lastbut not least, to better the marketing and information about entrepreneurship as an occupation,as well as the entrepreneurial offers at UiS. In conclusion, female students EI can be increasedby offering more practical training, providing more female entrepreneur role models andgenerally enhancing the marketing and information sharing about entrepreneurship at UiS. Thiscan strengthen the female students' knowledge, competence and subjective perceptions abouttheir own capabilities. Further, it can reduce their perceived risk and uncertainty surroundingentrepreneurship. By implementing these measures, UiS can increase the entrepreneurialintention rate among female students and as such, possibly promote more female entrepreneursin Norway.
Key Words: entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intention, gender stereotypes, social norms,role models, entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial activities, economic and societaldevelopment, the University of Stavanger