Developing graduate entrepreneurs: exploring the experiences of university entrepreneurs in residence

Abstract

This study aims to explore the coaching experience of entrepreneurs in residence in the UK higher education institutions. ‘The entrepreneurs in residence’ is a relatively new intervention. The individuals who hold these positions appear to claim that they coach the potential entrepreneurs to facilitate to acquire required skills to become successful entrepreneurs. However, this is a relatively under-researched area both within coaching and enterprise/entrepreneurship education. Therefore, we aim to explore individual experience of entrepreneurs in residence (provider of the service) and the students' (receiver) perspectives to develop a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurs in residence supports students to gain required understanding, skills and knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs in future. We ask: How entrepreneurs in residence make sense of their intervention / experience in coaching practice? Therefore, our main aim is to explore entrepreneurs in residences’ experience to address the previously highlighted research and practice gap. The student perspectives are used to develop additional understanding of entrepreneurs in residences’ sense-making. Considering the subjective and contextual nature of the study, and its interest in human experience and hermeneutics, the study is conducted adopting Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the research methodology. This is a working paper, therefore, there is no empirical data collected but the study aims to contribute to develop understanding of the role of entrepreneurs in residence in the UK universities, i.e. their role in developing future entrepreneurs. This study has potential in influencing policy while informing practice and the literature.