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GUESSS (Global University Spirit Students 'Survey)

What are students entrepreneurial intentions and activities across the world?

This question is of both social and economic relevance. Why? Because students are the entrepreneurs of the future. Their innovative plans and movements will shape the societies of the future, thus being responsible for our economic wellbeing.

It is, therefore, important to understand how many of the current students want to pursue an entrepreneurial career and for what reason. Subsequently, stakeholders like academics, practitioners, educators and policy-makers can be informed on these matters.

GUESSS (Global University Spirit Students’ Survey) measures these intentions and statistics on a national and international level. The last survey was conducted in 2014 (in the Netherlands). 

In 2021, the University of Twente (UT), takes the lead in conducting this survey for the Netherlands together with its Student Union and Entrepreneurship and Technology Management (EMT). Entrepreneurship plays a key role in the environment of the UT; for the fourth time in a row, they received the title of ‘Most Entrepreneurial University of the Netherlands’. The UT, therefore, tries to facilitate as much as possible for its students in regard to this matter. This is done in collaboration with the East Netherlands Development Agency, Oost NL. Oost NL strengthens the economy of the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel by funding, starting and growing SME’s, they stimulate innovation and collaboration. Besides this, they offer companies from outside the Netherlands a ‘soft landing’ in the East of the Netherlands.  By working together, a huge amount of students will be reached.

Important topics in the survey

A few generations ago, it was normal in households for women to stay at home and for men to earn money for a living. This is not the case anymore, female entrepreneurship is booming as it has never done before. More attention will be paid to this topic and its impact. Besides this, the current Covid-19 pandemic will be addressed extensively in the survey. It is key to learn about its effect and consequences for the future.

 You can find the survey via this link: https://www.guesssurvey.org/, the survey will close at the end of June.