Entrepreneurship education in post-Soviet states: Developing programmes for hospitality and tourism students in Samarkand

Abstract

This paper considers a country-context where traditional entrepreneurship has not been a major part of the economy and considers current attempts to develop entrepreneurship education (EE) as a part of wider market development. We review the background to the economic development of the Post-Soviet states and link this to existing knowledge around EE. The potential routes by which EE might be developed in Uzbekistan are discussed with a focus upon hospitality and tourism education, leading to the development of a model of the six key aspects of change The potential for future research is explored and four aspects are highlighted as areas where partnership working with overseas Universities is likely to have substantive benefits. In particular, the development of quality standards and staff development are areas where partnership could have an important influence, whereas barriers within local systems and cultural resistance are likely to benefit less from a partnership approach. Whilst entrepreneurial competencies and entrepreneurial intent are both important, entrepreneurial intent is highlighted given its role in terms of individual responses to country-level initiatives. Whilst all aspects merit further research, the paper ends with a specific suggestion that future research should draw on the theory of planned behaviour to explore entrepreneurial intent. Practical implications include the proposed development of quality standards for entrepreneurship education and staff development work. The on-going evaluation of these areas is key to on-going development. Uzbekistan is a relatively under-researched area where hospitality and tourism industries are under-going a period of intense development.