The project Women Entrepreneurs in Regional Inclusive Ecosystems - WeRIn aims at making entrepreneurship education and support programmes more inclusive at both ends of the story; at the time when female students receive the entrepreneurship education, and when they transcend the boundaries of HEIs, thus bridging the apparent “Valley of death” from entrepreneurship education towards the incubation of ventures from female students in HE and women that after graduation have decided to embark in an entrepreneurial career, hereafter denominated graduate aspiring women entrepreneurs. The goal is to make women feel invited to the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. The question is: How can we enhance the inclusivity of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems and embeddedness of female entrepreneurs therein, through the design of more inclusive academic and non-academic entrepreneurship education and support programmes? This is the main question that we want to address throughout the project. WeRIn covers the concept of inclusion of entrepreneurship education and support programmes from two main dimensions: 1) the gender and the 2) the structural. Being (gender) inclusive is making women to feel invited to the entrepreneurship scene, while being (structural) inclusive means to transcend the boundaries of HE into the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region and to ensure that female entrepreneurs can become truly embedded in these ecosystems. The notion of embeddedness entails having access to and being involved in regional networks and benefiting from the resources available therein. These dimensions will constitute the main constructs to guide our research and operationalise our efforts in fostering more inclusive regional entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Increase the share of female graduate entrepreneurs and ensure they are firmly integrated into regional entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe. - Inclusion of entrepreneurship education and support programmes from a gender and structural perspective. - Make women feel invited to the entrepreneurship scene while going beyond the boundaries of Higher Education into their regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and ensure that female entrepreneurs can become a key part of these.
Women make up about 60% of higher education graduates, yet they are underrepresented in start-ups. Despite increased participation of female students in entrepreneurship education at HEIs, they still lag behind men in pursuing entrepreneurial careers. Female graduates are also less embedded in regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, with fewer participating in incubation programs, seeking funding, or joining networks. Many do not feel sufficiently invited to these opportunities.
<< Background >> Women make up about 60% of higher education graduates, yet they are underrepresented in start-ups. Despite increased participation of female students in entrepreneurship education at HEIs, they still lag behind men in pursuing entrepreneurial careers. Female graduates are also less embedded in regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, with fewer participating in incubation programs, seeking funding, or joining networks. Many do not feel sufficiently invited to these opportunities. << Objectives >> - Increase the share of female graduate entrepreneurs and ensure they are firmly integrated into regional entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe. - Inclusion of entrepreneurship education and support programmes from a gender and structural perspective. - Make women feel invited to the entrepreneurship scene while going beyond the boundaries of Higher Education into their regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and ensure that female entrepreneurs can become a key part of these. << Implementation >> The WeRIn project utilized a design sciences approach which involved four stages: 1. Research and Discovery assessed gender inclusivity in entrepreneurship programs across partner countries.2. Design and Development created the WeRLearnIn Approach and a Community of Practice.3. Pilot Testing validated the approach in partner universities.4. Dissemination and Sustainability ensured the project's longevity through educational resources and local events. << Results >> The WeRIn project developed the WeRLearnIn Approach, an inclusive learning method for female students and aspiring women entrepreneurs in higher education, connecting universities with the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. Educators and programme managers were trained to implement it. Tools and other resources were compiled in the WeRIn Toolbox. The project co-designed and pilot-tested these with stakeholders, creating a supportive learning community for students and aspiring entrepreneurs.