The Effectiveness of Case Studies in Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of case studies on the effectiveness of the educational process, namely, on academic performance and the entrepreneurial success of students of economic universities. The study involved 143 fifth-year economics students studying at Moscow universities. The study participants were divided into two groups: the focus group of 73 students actively using case studies, and the comparison group of 70 participants that did not apply the method. The study period was 12 months long. The total percentage of employed students (both groups) turned out to be rather high: more than 70% of graduates started official labor activities. The use of business cases contributes to a greater demand for graduates in the labor market. The results indicate a significant correlation between the methodology under study and entrepreneurial success that manifests itself in starting one's own business demonstrating high values of χ2 = 9.970 and 8.715 (Yates' correction), p <0.05. The use of case studies in economic universities in Russia has proved a complete success in the career development of graduates in an entrepreneurial environment. The broader introduction of the method is justified and will contribute to the quality of entrepreneurship education.