Percepciones de propietarios de micro y pequeñas empresas sobre la educación emprendedora en Autlán, Jalisco

This study examines how entrepreneurs in Autlán, Jalisco, view entrepreneurship education. A structured questionnaire was administered to 65 owners of micro and small businesses using a non-probabilistic convenience sample and a descriptive cross-sectional design. Sixty percent of the entrepreneurs are between the ages of 26 and 45, and 63% have no higher education. Seventy-seven percent have been operating their businesses for five years or more, and no differences were found based on educational attainment. Ninety-four percent of entrepreneurs consider entrepreneurship education important, including those who did not pursue higher education. However, 65% state that schools do not adequately foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Eighty-five percent believe that entrepreneurial ability can be developed, and 42% indicate that this begins in high school. In this regard, when asked about the behaviors, characteristics, or traits a successful entrepreneur should possess, creativity (85%), a commitment to excellence (88%), self-confidence (87%), risk-taking (74%), and a willingness to fail (60%) are the traits that, according to the surveyed entrepreneurs, best describe entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs value entrepreneurial training, although most lack a college education and feel that schools do not promote it sufficiently. The proposal is to develop a college program that incorporates experienced entrepreneurs as mentors.