The role of entrepreneurship education and training on creation of the knowledge economy. Qatar leap to the future

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2017-0032
Date10 September 2017
Published date10 September 2017
Pages375-388
AuthorYagoub Ali Gangi
Subject MatterStrategy,Business ethics,Sustainability
The role of entrepreneurship
education and training on creation
of the knowledge economy
Qatar leap to the future
Yagoub Ali Gangi
Ahmed bin Mohamed Military College, Doha, Qatar
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of Qatar with entrepreneurship education
and training, and its contribution in creating a knowledge-based economy. By doing so, the paper will
contribute towards raising awareness about the state of entrepreneurship education, training and the
knowledge economy in Qatar.
Design/methodology/approach The research design for this paper is a descriptive and interpretive
case study that is analys ed through qualitativ e methods. Secondary in formation is analysed t hrough
descriptive statist ics.
Findings The main finding of this paper is that although Qatar has launched many initiatives of
entrepreneurship education and training to help diversify its economy by creating knowledge-based
economy, the data show that there is some improvement in Qatars rankingin the Knowledge Economy Index.
Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this study is the unavailability of secondary
data for a long period of time.
Social implications The main policy implication that can be derived from the findings of this paper is
that entrepreneurship education and training alone cannot create a diversified and knowledge-based
economy in a short period of time. In fact building a knowledge economy requires more than introduction of
entrepreneurship education and training. In addition to entrepreneurship education it requires improvement
in the national innovation system, large investment in information and communication technology and a good
macroeconomic performance. Moreover, the success of entrepreneurship education and training in fulfilling
its objective requires a comprehensive strategy to be implemented over a long period of time.
Originality/value The paper represents an original work that links entrepreneurship education
and training with the knowledge economy. This is the first paper that handles this issue in the context of
Gulf countries.
Keywords Entrepreneurship training, GCC, Qatar, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship education,
Knowledge economy
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Many GCC countries experienced unprecedented economic difficulties during the period of
international financial crisis of 2008-2009. During that period all these countries went
through a large budget deficit and, for the first time, some of them suffered from internal
debt problems. These economic difficulties happened again during the rapid fall in oil prices
that began in the fourth quarter of 2014. The governments of these countries have been
trying to avoid the consequences of such problems by designing and embarking on strategic
plans that aim for economic diversifications through the creation of a knowledge economy.
These plans involve many policy packages and initiatives that were directed towards
economic diversification and sustainable economic growth. For example, Qatar launched its
Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, supported by the Qatar National Strategic Plan (QNSD)
(2011-2016). Together these two policies aimed to transform the Qatar economy into a
diversified and competitive knowledge-based economy (Qatar National Vision, 2008). Along
the same lines, Saudi Arabia launched its 2030 development vision that placed economic
diversification as its main goal. This trend is evident in many other GCC countries.
World Journal of
Entrepreneurship, Management
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 13 No. 4, 2017
pp. 375-388
© Emerald PublishingLimited
2042-5961
DOI10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2017-0032
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5961.htm
375
Entrepreneurship
education and
training

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