Bridging Competency Gaps in Entrepreneurship Education: Future Skills and Intrapreneurship

Questions we care about (Objectives): What competencies do students of entrepreneurship need to effectively navigate the challenges of intrapreneurship and prepare for the demands of the future workforce? Which digital, AI, and future-oriented skills should be prioritized within entrepreneurship education (EE) to align with emerging economic and technological paradigms? How can entrepreneurship programs be designed to appeal to students who do not necessarily aspire to start their own business but aim to apply entrepreneurial thinking within corporate or interdisciplinary contexts? Approach: Our approach starts from an integrative literature review, compares and evaluates well-known competency frameworks such as EntreComp, DigComp and Future Skills. By synthesizing insights across these frameworks and intrapreneurial skills, our analysis identifies gaps between traditional entrepreneurial education and the evolving competencies required for intrapreneurship, digital innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. We systematically assess established models and incorporate findings from recent studies on corporate innovation and digital transformation to propose a unified, extended framework. Results: The results reveal significant opportunities for EE to evolve by integrating digital fluency, adaptability, and intrapreneurial competencies into its core curricula. Specifically, the extended framework emphasizes internal organizational leadership, ethical digital collaboration, and transformative competencies that address both business and societal challenges. These enhancements demonstrate how EE can more effectively prepare students for diverse entrepreneurial pathways, from startup creation to corporate innovation roles. Implications: The implications of our study extend to educational institutions, policymakers, and practitioners. Redesigning EE curricula to include emerging skills, such as agile resource management, digital content creation, and interdisciplinary problem-solving, will equip students with the capabilities to thrive in dynamic professional environments. Moreover, our findings highlight the potential for entrepreneurship programs to broaden their appeal by fostering entrepreneurial thinking that transcends traditional venture creation. Value/Originality: The value and originality of this research lie in its holistic and forward-looking approach. By bridging gaps between established competency frameworks, our study not only advances theoretical understanding but also provides practical recommendations for enhancing EE’s relevance in a rapidly transforming global economy. This integrated perspective offers a roadmap for aligning EE with the competencies required for innovation, resilience, and adaptability in the future workforce.