University business creation courses: Bibliometric insights and challenges for transformative entrepreneurship education

This study bibliometrically analyzes the evolution and structure of scientific literature on university-level business creation courses. Using the Web of Science database, 5208 articles from 1965 to 2024 were examined to identify trends, thematic clusters, and pedagogical methodologies. Results reveal exponential growth in publications post-2000, driven by competency-based education and active methodologies such as design thinking and experiential learning. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy, resilience, and the entrepreneurial mindset emerge as prominent themes, reflecting a shift from business-centered to pedagogically oriented approaches emphasizing transformative learning and sustainability. The field demonstrates increasing internationalization, albeit with geographical concentration. This study offers targeted insights for curriculum redesign, teacher training, and developing transformative entrepreneurship education programs, advocating for coherent content and method integration. • Exponential growth in publications on business creation courses post-2000. • Focus shifted from firms to pedagogy, mindset, and self-efficacy. • Research evolved from business concepts to learning and sustainability. • International growth led by China, USA, and Europe, with regional gaps. • Findings inform curricula, teacher training, and ethical entrepreneurship.