Supporting Students and Society: Underpinning entrepreneurship education with a humanistic philosophy

Whilst there has been a rapid expansion and proliferation in the delivery of entrepreneurship education globally, the literature suggests that entrepreneurship educators are not always well versed in educational theory and philosophy. This can lead to a degree of separation between the practice of entrepreneurship education and educational science, which underpins the delivery of entrepreneurship education. Existing literature has proposed the need for a range of educational philosophies and theories to be integrated to ensure the effective delivery of entrepreneurship education within higher education. Entrepreneurship education delivered within higher education needs to meet the needs of students, higher education institutions and stakeholders. This chapter theorises and espouses how underpinning entrepreneurship education with a humanistic philosophy can help meet these needs and support students and society's development. Humanism can be combined with other underpinning philosophies of education to support the development of essential entrepreneurial competencies and learning in relation to individuals' own interests and contexts. Through interaction between students and their community, students can develop networks, value-orientated skills, make integrative judgements and gain an understanding of the importance of compassion within entrepreneurship. Through such engagement and interaction, students can follow their interests, in a liberating learning environment which supports self-actualisation.