A Mixed-Method Study on Innovation Capability Enhancing through Entrepreneurial Education: New Normal Perspective

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in 2020 is similar to other crises, such as natural disasters, war, macroeconomic mismanagement, and its economic shock has brought great influence to enterprises all over the world. The crisis will lead to a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) bankruptcy and social unemployment tide. The tense trade war and ideological conflict between China and the United States before the outbreak have brought China's economic development into a severe bottleneck period. The main objective of this study is to analyze the influence of entrepreneurship education on innovation capability among undergraduate students in Guangxi, China. The mixed-method research design is utilized in this study, the quantitative data of 400 senior undergraduates from 3 universities in China were collected by questionnaires, the proposed data analysis has adopted by CB-SEM. A qualitative sample of the in-depth interview was identified as 15 and Nvivo software was utilized for data analysis, including 12 students and 3 instructors from three universities. The current international competitiveness is mainly focused on the technical talents and innovation capability, this study referenced the Triple Helix Model of Innovation that government, university, and industry play the important roles in the innovation ecosystem. The findings revealed the institutional environment and supporting infrastructure have a significant impact on student’s innovation capability, and entrepreneurial capital obtained from entrepreneurship education program is important for the cultivation of innovation capability. This research makes significant theoretical and practical implications to enrich the existing literature of the relationship of entrepreneurship education and innovation capability, and the policymakers of government and universities should encourage the innovation-driven entrepreneurship education practices in the new normal economic environment.