A social enterprise model for TB detection and treatment through the private sector in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Existing models to increase TB case notifications from the private sector in Pakistan are financially unsustainable and have achieved modest success due to limited coverage. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a social enterprise model (SEM) intervention on TB case detection in Karachi, Pakistan, and to assess its financial sustainability. METHODS: Purpose-built centres were established within the private sector that integrated TB screening, diagnostics and treatment and operated 12 hours per day with convenient locations to improve access. TB services were offered free of cost, and revenue generation took place through user fees from other diagnostics. Private providers with a focus on the informal sector were engaged through community workers to generate screening referrals. RESULTS: Overall 171,488 people were screened and 18,683 cases were notified, including 197 individuals with drug-resistant TB. Annual TB notifications in Karachi increased from 18,105 in 2014 to a maximum of 25,840 (40% increase). The proportion of cases in Karachi notified by the centres grew to 27% in 2020. Commercial revenue reached USD288,065 and enabled operating cost recovery of 15%. Average cost per TB case notified was USD203. CONCLUSION: The SEM intervention contributed a large proportion of notifications in Karachi and achieved modest cost recovery.

CONTEXTE: Les modèles existants visant à augmenter les notifications de cas de TB par le secteur privé au Pakistan ne sont pas viables financièrement et n'ont obtenu qu'un succès modeste en raison d'une couverture limitée. OBJECTIF: Évaluer l'impact d'un modèle déntreprise sociale (SEM, pour l'anglais « social entreprise model ¼) sur la détection des cas de TB à Karachi, au Pakistan, et évaluer sa viabilité financière. MÉTHODES: Des centres spécialisés ont été créés dans le secteur privé. Ils intègrent le dépistage, le diagnostic et le traitement de la TB et fonctionnent 12 heures par jour dans des lieux adaptés afin dén faciliter l'accès. Les services de lutte contre la TB étaient gratuits et les recettes provenaient des frais d'utilisation des autres diagnostics. Des prestataires privés, axés sur le secteur informel, ont été engagés par l'intermédiaire d'agents communautaires pour orienter les patients vers les services de dépistage. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 171 488 personnes ont été dépistées et 18 683 cas ont été notifiés, dont 197 personnes atteintes de TB résistante aux médicaments. Les notifications annuelles de TB à Karachi sont passées de 18 105 en 2014 à un maximum de 25 840 (augmentation de 40%). La proportion de cas à Karachi notifiés par les centres est passée à 27% en 2020. Les recettes commerciales ont atteint 288 065 USD et ont permis un recouvrement des coûts déxploitation de 15%. Le coût moyen par cas de TB notifié était de 203 USD. CONCLUSION: L'intervention SEM a contribué à une grande proportion de notifications à Karachi et a permis un modeste recouvrement des coûts.

The Owner Will See You Now: The Road to Entrepreneurship for Diverse Veterinarians.

The veterinary field needs more racial diversity to reflect pet owners and the general population. The problem is compounded when we examine diversity in veterinary practice ownership and other entrepreneurial endeavors. The road to business ownership is challenging for minority veterinarians, who must work harder to prove themselves to skeptical clients in a historically white profession. But, diverse veterinarians can succeed as entrepreneurs when they adopt the right mindset, surround themselves with like-minded and supportive peers, develop resilience, accept failure, and learn to pivot when needed to correct their course.

Productive use of energy of women-owned micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises: Insights from food and textile businesses in selected African countries.

This paper presents a descriptive study focusing on the productive energy use of women-owned micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises that operate in Africa's food and textile sectors. Through a multidisciplinary approach, combining primary and secondary data collection methods, and integrating quantitative and qualitative tools, this study examines the relationship between the gender-based ownership structure of enterprises (i.e., sole female, female-female, and female-male) and energy consumption patterns, including demand levels, carrier use, access type (on-grid or off-grid), and expenditure. Despite limitations in scope and sample size, the findings shed light on gender-specific productive use practices. Findings show that female-owned businesses primarily rely on single or dual energy carriers, contrasting with female-male enterprises, which typically employ two or more energy carriers. Fuel usage varies among ownership structures, with diesel, biomass, and liquified petroleum gas being notable choices. Increasing diversity in ownership correlates with heightened awareness of energy metrics and monthly demand for electric and mechanical power, with some of the latter correlation also observed for thermal energy. Moreover, as ownership diversity increases, energy expenditure per kilogramme of production output decreases. Some sole female-owned enterprises surpass 100 USD/kg/month, female-female partnerships may reach 100 USD/kg/month, whereas female-male co-owned enterprises remain below 10 USD/kg/month. Beyond contributing to understanding gendered productive energy practices, this research also emphasises the importance of gender mainstreaming in productive use and energy access interventions. It highlights the need for renewable energy solutions, capacity-building programmes, and further research to address efficiency and accessibility challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

Challenging the status quo through nursing entrepreneurship education: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Entrepreneurship education is commonly incorporated into areas beyond nursing. However, advocating for curricular changes is necessary in a generation that seeks new learning styles and has different preferences and needs. Entrepreneurship has been identified as a valuable subject to be incorporated into nursing education, as it aligns with the foundational principles of Nursing as a science. AIM: To examine the state of knowledge regarding the entrepreneurship education of undergraduate nursing students. DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted following JBI and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. METHODS: The searches were performed on July 19th, 2023, in MEDLINE via PubMed; ISI Web of Science; EBSCOhost CINAHL; Embase; Scopus; BVShost LILACS; and ProQuest. Grey literature was searched on Google Scholar. Records examining the entrepreneurship education of nursing students were included. RESULTS: The searches resulted in 17 records, 15 of which were from databases and two of which were identified via other methods. Although entrepreneurship education has increased over the years, the incorporation of diverse teaching modalities as a transformative and innovative educational strategy is still not a reality for many undergraduate nursing students worldwide. The findings highlight that entrepreneurship education is incorporated theoretically into mandatory courses with curricular components related to administration and health services management. CONCLUSIONS: Entrepreneurship education can pivot nursing education and drive change in educational strategy while maintaining the fundamentals of nursing education. With entrepreneurship education, nursing students envision professional identity values, such as leadership, critical thinking, and political development. When understanding their political role, nursing students can exercise leadership to think critically outside the box and challenge the status quo.

Building bio-innovation systems through advanced biotechnology education.

We discuss the role of advanced biotechnology education in fostering sustainable bio-innovation systems. As a case study, we focus on Paraguay's Graduate Diploma in Innovation Management and Biotechnological Projects, which emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder integration, and professionals skilled in the interplay between biotechnology, society, and governance. We highlight the relevance of educational programs in addressing the gap between academic research and industrial needs, thereby contributing to sustainable growth in the biotechnology sector.

Higher Education Institutions as Strategic Centers for Promoting Social Innovation in Gerontology: Insights from the Senior Innovation Lab Training Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Social innovation and gerontology develop a wide range of actions aimed at supporting and improving the needs of long-lived populations. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are drivers of change, and their potential to develop solutions through teaching students' social innovation skills should be considered in the field of longevity. This article reports the results obtained by the Senior Innovation Lab (SIL) training initiative. METHODS: Challenge-based learning, design thinking, and lean startup approaches were implemented in training 26 participants with the final aim of developing innovative solutions to previously identified long-lived population needs. RESULTS: Final products were innovative ideas developed through collaboration between students, academic staff, and business employees, indicating the importance of adopting entrepreneurial approaches in academic teaching. The participants identified motivation and perseverance as the most relevant entrepreneurial skills and most of them also perceived that they possessed it. The participants also considered spotting opportunities (chance to add value) as the most desired skill throughout the whole experience. CONCLUSIONS: SIL's assessment showed that social innovation methodologies contributed to the development of learning strategies, enabling potential solutions for the ageing challenges.

Genesis of People's Medicine Centre (PMC) for popularisation of generic medicine: A critical qualitative inquiry.

Introduction: The concerns of inaccessibility to essential medicines in India are well-studied and documented. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Priyojana (PMBJP) is one of the policy initiatives to address the inaccessibility of essential medicine. Janaushadhi Kendra (People's Medicine Centre), which is part of PMBJP is being enquired in a limited way to understand its effectiveness. The province of Odisha has been chosen as the study area for the evaluation of People's Medicine Centres. Objective: The present study intends to inquire into the nature of People's Medicine Centre ownership, pharmacists' motivations and incentives to engage in business, perceived customers' trust and satisfaction, scheme beneficiaries, and challenges. Methods: A qualitative research approach has been adopted to evaluate the broader subjective accounts of the pharmacists and People's Medicine Centre. An open-ended interview guide was used. The topics of ownership, motivation, incentives, trust, satisfaction, perceived benefits, and challenges has been recorded from the participants. A total of seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted in the province of Odisha, India. Results: The study found that the ownership of People's Medicine Centre was of two types in the province of Odisha: public-NGO-owned People's Medicine Centres and public-private-owned People's Medicine Centres. The financial incentive provisions in the scheme attracted the private pharmacists. Pharmacists highlighted about the lower price of generic medicines compared to branded medicines, which is very popular among patients. They also pointed out that there is no difference in the efficacy of both medicines. The attitude of physicians, especially private physicians, were considered problematic for popularity and acceptance. Conclusion: The People's Medicine Centres in Odisha established themselves as trusted outlets despite physicians' unfavourable attitudes. Although the centres have not reached the required geographical coverage, economically developed regions have large number of centres, while backward regions have minimal presence. The scheme needs to be more conducive to the welfare of the masses living in remote and rural areas.

Artificial Intelligence Model Chatgpt-4: Entrepreneur Candidate and Entrepreneurship Example.

Background: Although artificial intelligence technologies are still in their infancy, it is seen that they can bring together both hope and anxiety for the future. In the research, it is focused on examining the ChatGPT-4 version, which is one of the most well-known artificial intelligence applications and claimed to have self-learning feature, within the scope of business establishment processes. Methods: In this direction, the assessment questions in the Entrepreneurship Handbook, published as open access by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey, which focuses on guiding the entrepreneurial processes in Turkey and creating the perception of entrepreneurship, were combined with the artificial intelligence model ChatGPT-4 and analysed within three stages. The way of solving the questions of artificial intelligence modelling and the answers it provides have the opportunity to be compared with the entrepreneurship literature. Results: It has been seen that the artificial intelligence modelling ChatGPT-4, being an outstanding entrepreneurship example itself, has succeeded in answering the questions posed in the context of 16 modules in the entrepreneurship handbook in an original way by analysing deeply. Conclusion: It has also been concluded that it is quite creative in developing new alternatives to the correct answers specified in the entrepreneurship handbook. The original aspect of the research is that it is one of the pioneers of the study on artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship in literature.

Exploring the current state of technology transfer in the United States: perspectives and improvement strategies from the experts.

Technology transfer (TT) is a necessary, yet complex process to convey and disseminate scientific knowledge to the commercial sector. However, multiple barriers in TT can impede commercialization and innovative progress. To cultivate a deeper understanding, we conducted five interviews with strategic, elite leaders in different areas of TT in the United States. Experts shared their perspectives on the current state of TT, what needs improvement, and potential solutions to enhance the TT landscape, with a focus on biotechnology and medical devices. The formation of strong management teams, a comprehension of the regulatory, reimbursement, and funding pathways and policies, and thorough market assessments were noted as key aspects for venture success. Collaboration with Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), industry experts, and strategic partners are also essential to support academic innovators and guide them throughout the complex commercialization process. There is agreement that a venture should have a defined vision and clear goals with a robust business case for the innovation; early involvement of TTOs is essential. Comprehension of the complexities and key facets of TT, while also streamlining the process, will better position biomedical innovators for success.

Exploring entrepreneurial intention: The roles of proactive personality, education, opportunity and Planned Behavior.

Entrepreneurial intention is crucial in fostering an entrepreneurial culture and driving economic growth, especially among students from higher education institutions. Our study aims to examine the role of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), specifically attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), in the relationships between proactive personality (PP), entrepreneurship education (EE), entrepreneurial opportunity (EO), and entrepreneurial intention (EI) among final-year students higher education institutions in China. The TPB framework provides a theoretical foundation to investigate how psychological factors, such as ATE and PBC, mediate an individual's intention to engage in entrepreneurial behavior. The research model was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings, derived from a sample of 250 final-year students from public universities in China, indicate that ATE and PBC mediate the relationships between PP, EO, and EI. However, only ATE was found to mediate the relationship between EE and EI. Our findings offer insights into the foundational mechanisms driving EI, significantly advancing the scholarly understanding of entrepreneurial behavior. By demonstrating the applicability of the TPB framework, our study sheds light on the psychological processes that underlie the connections between PP, EE, EO and EI.

How digital inclusive finance promotes social entrepreneurship: Evidence from 282 cities in China.

Social entrepreneurship (SE) plays a positive role in addressing a range of social issues, and thus it is essential to study how to promote SE. Using panel data from 282 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021, this study explores the mechanism through which digital inclusive finance affects SE. The results indicate that digital inclusive finance has a positive impact on SE, which still holds after considering endogeneity and undergoing a series of robustness tests. In addition, mechanism analysis shows that digital inclusive finance affects SE by alleviating financing constraints and promoting common prosperity. Furthermore, the effect of digital inclusive finance is stronger in cities with a strong Buddhist culture and more judicially civilized. Policy recommendations are also proposed.

Towards an understanding of multi-generational higher education cohorts in gamified entrepreneurship education.

The increasing inclusion of gamified courses in entrepreneurship programmes in higher education have left gaps in understanding the critical essentials of the multi-generational student cohort undertaking these programmes. In this paper, we interrogate the educational experiences of multi-generational higher education students in a core gamified entrepreneurship course in an undergraduate business school programme. The research analyzed 392 course feedback responses from three generations (X, Y and Z) of a multi-generational cohort. The study developed and validated a behaviour-results model for gamified entrepreneurship courses leading to student entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial orientation, and disaggregated student engagement into it's multiple dimensions of cognitive, behavioural and emotional. The model also validated six dimensions of individual entrepreneurship orientation. Using the model, the study found differences in the component variables based on student Generations X, Y, and Z. Also, student cognitive and behavioural engagement led to entrepreneurial intention which also influenced student entrepreneurial orientation. There were marked differences in student grit, cognitive engagement, and emotional engagement between Generations X and Z. Furthermore, generational differences existed amongst Generation Z and Y, and also for Generation Z and X in student entrepreneurial intention. The study also confirmed the difference in entrepreneurial orientation between Generations X and Z. Additionally, the study found that there is a need to contextualize student engagement facilitators such as results demonstrability of the business simulation platform, student grit and user characteristics as they have selective effects on student cognition, behavioural and emotional engagements in a multi-generational student cohort of Generation X, Y and Z.

The Importance of Context-Relevance: Entrepreneurial Personality Relates to Entrepreneurial Outcomes Beyond the HEXACO and Dark Triad.

Entrepreneurial Personality (EP) is a collection of traits that causes someone to be entrepreneurial, including both an attraction to and success in entrepreneurial activities. Although EP and its inclusion criteria is defined by its relevance to entrepreneurship, research has yet to support that it relates to entrepreneurial outcomes more strongly than extant frameworks of personality, causing uncertainty regarding its theoretical rationale and conceptual foundation. Applying the bandwidth-fidelity dilemma as our theoretical lens, the current article reports two studies to test whether EP relates to entrepreneurial outcomes beyond the HEXACO and Dark Triad dimensions. Using a sample of non-business owners, Study 1 supports that EP explains both more variance than and variance beyond the HEXACO and Dark Triad in outcomes associated with the earlier phases of the entrepreneurial process, such as entrepreneurial goal setting, goal striving, and goal achievement. Using a sample of business owners, Study 2 supports that EP explains both more variance than and variance beyond the HEXACO and Dark Triad in outcomes associated with the later phases of the entrepreneurial process, including entrepreneurial performance and well-being. These results encourage future research on EP by supporting the validity of the personality framework, and we suggest several directions for future research, such as broader applications of the bandwidth-fidelity dilemma.

A oferta do café de rua nas capitais São Paulo e Vitória / The offer of coffee on the streets of the state capitals São Paulo and Vitória / La oferta de café en las calles de las capitales estatales São Paulo y Vitória

A pandemia gerou impactos sociais e econômicos, como o trabalho informal dos que se ocupam do serviço de café de rua, ampliado na retomada pós-isolamento. O artigo analisa as significações construídas pelas instalações do serviço nas ruas de São Paulo (SP) e Vitória (ES), enquanto manifestações do empreendedo-rismo por necessidade. O corpus foi coletado em dias úteis, no início das manhãs, em diversos pontos das capitais. A semiótica discursiva sustentou a análise, e o seu método permitiu traçar isotopias conectoras de figuras e temas. Os resultados apontam para comunicação dos sentidos da informalidade, casualidade e familiaridade, marcados pela presença feminina, pela autonomia imposta aos sujeitos produtor/vendedor e consumidor e pela conexão entre a energia proporcionada pela bebida e o trabalho. Esses significadosvêm embebidos no risco vivido por esses sujeitos, aconchegados entre si e alijados da proteção de políticas públicas de trabalho, condições sanitárias, serviços de transporte e saúde.

The pandemic has generated social and economic impacts, such as the informal work of those who sell coffee on the streets, expanded in the post-isolation resumption. The article analyzes the meanings constructed by the service facilities in São Paulo (SP) and Vitória (ES), as demonstrations of the entrepreneurship by necessity. The corpus was collected on weekdays, in places of the state capitals. Discursive semiotics underpins the analysis, suggesting connective isotopies of figures and themes. The results point to the communication of the senses of informality, casualness and familiarity, marked by the female presence, by the autonomy imposed on the subjects producer/seller and consumer and by the connection between the energy given by the drink and the work. These meanings are embedded in the risk experienced by these subjects, snuggled among themselves and excluded from the protection of public policies of work, sanitary conditions, transportation and health services.

La pandemia generó impactos sociales y económicos, como el trabajo informal de quienes se ocupan del servicio de café en las calles, ampliado en la reanudación post-aislamiento. El artículo analiza los signifi-cados construidos por las instalaciones de servicios en las calles de São Paulo (SP) y Vitória (ES), como manifestaciones de emprendimiento por necesidad. El corpus fue recolectado entresemana, en puntos de las capitales. La semiótica discursiva sustenta el análisis y permitió trazar isotopías conectoras de figuras y temas. Los resultados apuntan para la comunicación de los significados de informalidad, marcados por la presencia femenina, por la autonomía impuesta a los sujetos productor/vendedor y consumidor, y por la conexión entre la energía dada por la bebida y el trabajo. Estos significados están incrustados en el riesgo vivido por estos sujetos, y excluidos de la protección de las políticas públicas laborales, las condiciones sanitarias, los servicios de transporte y salud.

Entrepreneurship and innovation in Nigerian universities: Trends, challenges and opportunities.

In a bid to improve entrepreneurial outcomes of graduates from Nigerian universities, the Nigerian government has launched a range of interventions, including a 2004 national policy mandating compulsory inclusion of entrepreneurship education in the curriculum, and support for the establishment and implementation of entrepreneurship development activities by university departments. However, not much is known about the operational nuances, challenges and impact cases that characterise the implementation of this national policy in such a vast, culturally diverse country as Nigeria. To address this lacuna, this study draws on qualitative data from five focus groups, crystalised with quantitative data from 151 students across four Nigerian Universities, to explicate the current trends, successes, and challenges of entrepreneurship development and innovation support in Nigerian universities. The paper offers recommendations on how the current policy on entrepreneurship education in Nigeria can be enhanced to improve student entrepreneurial aspirations and outcomes. It also signposts innovative pedagogic activities which could be deployed to achieve this.

Encouraging entrepreneurship in dietetics: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of new graduate dietitians participating in an entrepreneurship mentoring circle.

AIMS: Healthcare needs of the Australian population are changing, providing an opportunity for dietitians to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship to meet evolving demands. This study explored the expectations and experiences of participants in a 12-month mentoring circle designed to provide entrepreneurship learning and formal mentoring for the Provisional Accredited Practising Dietitians Program. METHODS: A qualitative study design was employed. New graduate dietitians (<2 years) participating in the Entrepreneurial Dietetics Mentoring Circle in 2019, 2020 or 2021 were invited to participate. Baseline demographic and employment data were collected via survey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted before mentoring circle session 1 (baseline) and after the final session (completion), exploring insights into participant expectations and experiences in entrepreneurship. Thematic analysis, using methods outlined by Braun and Clark, was conducted to identify themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight dietitians participated (85% of mentees). Participants were mostly female (89%), less than 12 months post-graduation (75%), registered as Provisional Accredited Practising Dietitians (82%) and employed at least part-time (55%). Forty five interviews were conducted (28 baseline, 18 completion). Themes developed were: (1) entrepreneurial career path as a deliberate choice; (2) the value of being prepared for entrepreneurial careers; and (3) the importance of networks to support entrepreneurship. CONCLUSION: The mentoring circle at this single university was seen by participants as supporting their transition into entrepreneurial careers, while meeting their requirement to be formally mentored through their Provisional status. Future research could consider the applicability of the mentoring circle model across a wider graduate population to support innovative practice.

How entrepreneurship education affects college students' entrepreneurial intention: Samples from China.

Colleges and universities play a pivotal role in nurturing students' entrepreneurial aspirations, as evidenced by a significant increase in entrepreneurial education. Improving its quality and igniting students' motivation are crucial. This study, grounded in established theoretical frameworks, introduces variables such as entrepreneurial intention, attitude, and self-efficacy, forming a moderated mediation model. An analysis of 347 questionnaires using Mplus 8.0 reveals the following insights: (1) Collegiate-level entrepreneurship education is positively correlated with students' entrepreneurial intentions; (2) Entrepreneurial attitude and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and students' entrepreneurial intentions; (3) Entrepreneurial social support moderates the link between entrepreneurship education and students' entrepreneurial intentions. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge in entrepreneurship education and provide valuable guidance for enhancing its effectiveness and fostering students' entrepreneurial aspirations.

Entrepreneurial fear of failure among college students: A scoping review of literature from 2010 to 2023.

Entrepreneurial fear of failure (EFoF) is a psychological barrier to college entrepreneurship. Current research on EFoF among college students is at an emerging stage, and relevant evidence, such as the factors influencing EFoF, remains unclear and unsystematic. Most EFoF studies treat college students as general entrepreneurs, neglecting their unique social identities and situational contexts that influence their EFoF, such as parents and education. It is essential to provide a thorough and organized review to comprehensively understand the role of the EFoF in college student entrepreneurship. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR protocol to offer a broad exploration and mapping of the literature. This review identified 35 studies published from 2010 to 2023 through a rigorous search and sift across five prominent databases. Descriptive and thematic analyses revealed 1) the characteristics of the included studies, 2) the exogenous and endogenous factors that influence college students' EFoF, 3) the outcomes of EFoF on college students, and 4) research gaps. By mapping and synthesizing the literature, this scoping review contributes to the theory by providing a comprehensive overview of EFoF among college students and identifying research gaps, which illuminates future research directions. The findings also offer practical insights for entrepreneurship practitioners, including college student entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators, to better understand the role of EFoF among college students, thus effectively promoting the development of college student entrepreneurship.

University innovation and start-ups: Barriers and facilitators experienced by nursing faculties - A content analysis study.

AIM: University start-ups have gained significant popularity as a means of translating knowledge and research into practical applications. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the experiences and perspectives of nursing faculties engaged in start-up ventures. The objective of this study was to explore valuable insights into the barriers and facilitators within this context for promoting success, generating entrepreneurial attitudes, as well as enhancing the sustainability of nursing faculty-led start-ups. DESIGN: We employed a content analysis methodology to capture the real-life experiences of nursing faculties involved in university start-ups. This approach is an effective way to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject. METHODS: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Graneheim and Lundman's step was used for analysis and to identify recurring patterns and themes within the collected data. Sampling was done purposefully, with convenience and snowball techniques until data saturation. The MAXQDA version 10 software was utilised to easily analyse, code and present data. RESULTS: The analysis revealed four major themes encompassed: motivational factors, personal attributes, limited entry support and barriers to scaling. These themes shed light on factors, support systems, challenges faced during growth as well as personal characteristics highlighted by the participants. Our study highlighted the factors influencing entrepreneurship in nursing faculties. Addressing the challenges of this study requires enhancing support systems and fostering personal development for entrepreneurial success in healthcare innovation. Policymakers can promote university education to expand the entrepreneurship process using more facilities and make more services accessible.

Is entrepreneurship a key factor in the development of European countries? A proposal for an innovation readiness environment (IRE) index.

This study investigates the complex interplay among innovation, research and development (R&D), and entrepreneurship within the context of European nations. The focus of the study is also on the contributory role of tertiary educational institutions in nurturing entrepreneurial activities. To deepen the understanding of these multifaceted relationships and their subsequent impact on regional economies, the research introduces a novel metric termed the Innovation Readiness Environment (IRE) index. This index combines various indicators such as R&D expenditure, patenting rates, firm size, and educational levels, thereby providing a framework for evaluating firms' innovative capabilities and entrepreneurial success in a given region. Utilization of this index offers policymakers and stakeholders a nuanced understanding of the regional innovation ecosystem, facilitating the identification of strengths and deficiencies. This, in turn, enables the formulation of targeted policy interventions to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship. One relevant conclusion drawn from this study is the pivotal role of tertiary education in catalyzing entrepreneurial ventures. The findings posit that higher levels of entrepreneurial education significantly supplement an individual's likelihood of entrepreneurial success by imparting the requisite skills and knowledge indispensable in a competitive business milieu. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation, higher education institutions emerge as critical agents in cultivating entrepreneurial acumen and stimulating economic expansion. The study further incorporates a spatial analytical framework to elucidate the regional specificities of innovation at the pan-European scale.