Enhancing Entrepreneurship Education: An evidence-based framework for evaluating faculty development programs

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education programs in higher education have grown significantly in recent decades, reflecting an increasing recognition of their potential impact. These programs aim to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skills that foster creativity and innovation, which are critical for students' professional growth and future impact on society. Considering the complexities in cultivating these qualities, there is a need for higher education institutions to provide effective faculty development (FD) programs that are closely aligned with the goals of entrepreneurship education. In response, this research introduces an evidence-based framework to evaluate the effectiveness of FD programs in achieving these objectives. Our study involved 41 participants, assessed three times throughout the program. The results showed improvements in two learning outcomes related to creativity processes, with the notable influence of three important individual differences on the development of these outcomes. Additionally, the elective course was found to enhance one of the learning outcomes.