Entrepreneurship Education among International Students : Survey-Based Analysis and Concept Development of Support Services

Abstract

This thesis addresses entrepreneurship education among international students in Finland and examines how existing educational and support structures respond to their entrepreneurial needs. The topic is relevant because international students represent a potential source of talent, innovation and future entrepreneurial activity, yet their transition from studies to business creation may be affected by barriers linked to the Finnish context. The aim was to analyse how international students perceive the quality of entrepreneurship education and related support services, identify the main barriers to entrepreneurial activity, and determine which forms of support they consider most necessary. The study was conducted as empirical research using a questionnaire targeted at international students in Finland. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Based on the findings, a practical support concept was developed and preliminarily validated through expert feedback. The results indicate that international students do have entrepreneurial interest and potential, but their engagement is limited mainly by language barriers, lack of professional networks, uncertainty related to bureaucracy and funding and insufficient practical guidance on how to start a business in Finland. The thesis proposes an International Student Entrepreneurship Support Hub consisting of a digital front door, early-stage support and guided access to the Finnish entrepreneurial ecosystem. The outputs can be used by higher education institutions and support organisations to improve the visibility, accessibility and practical relevance of entrepreneurship support. Further research should test the concept in practice with a larger sample.