Understanding the entrepreneurial mindset among students: a review

As the global economy continues to evolve, there's an increasing focus on nurturing innovation and adaptability, especially among university students. Today, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business. It is seen as a mindset, a way of thinking, taking action, and solving problems across different areas of life and work. In response, many universities are embedding entrepreneurship into their education systems to help students build important qualities like initiative, resilience, and the ability to spot opportunities. This review brings together both research findings and theoretical insights to explore how the entrepreneurial mindset is shaped among students in higher education, and what this means for how we teach and learn. It draws on studies such as Pihie and Sani’s (2009) work, which looks at how hands-on learning activities help shape students' mindsets, and McGrath and MacMillan’s (2000) framework, which explains how entrepreneurs think and make decisions in uncertain situations. It also explores how entrepreneurship education can boost students' confidence and performance, especially when considering differences across academic fields.