The views of university students on developing competences and entrepreneurial attitudes among students of secondary schools in Poland

Purpose: The aim of the article is to analyse the conditions and possibilities of using entrepreneurship education in secondary schools in the context of stimulating the development of entrepreneurial skills and competences among students. What is more, the researchers examined the impact of entrepreneurship education provided at school to create the potential and acquire the skills required to create a new business venture and company management by university students. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this goal, a quantitative method was used, based on a survey conducted with the participation of 542 students admitted to the first year of studies in the academic year 2021/2022 at the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology. Findings: The results of the conducted research prove that every fourth graduate, regardless of whether they graduated from a Technical College or a General High School, assesses the education in the field of entrepreneurship, its potential to strengthen their predispositions and acquiring the skills required to lead own company, as average. Research limitations/implications: The research included only first-year students of the university, which does not constitute the basis for generalizing the obtained results for students studying in other academic centres. Formulating conclusions should be limited to the test sample only. Practical implications: The results of the study may be of interest to scientists and practitioners, examining the assessment and development of entrepreneurial competences among students of high schools and universities. In addition, this study can be helpful to employers who want to find out more about entrepreneurial attitudes of university graduates. Originality/value: This study may contribute to the debate on the role of education in shaping entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions among secondary school students.