Building Inclusive Student Innovation Competitions, Exhibitions, and Training Programs

Abstract

There has been an emerging trend of expanding entrepreneurship educational programs/events to broader student populations. Similarly, the focus of this paper is broadening participation in student innovation competitions, exhibitions, and training programs. Therefore, through student surveys, factors and barriers affecting student participation in these co-curricular programs were explored, with a particular interest being students who are underrepresented in entrepreneurship. The survey items were crafted based on the known scales and theories in the literature, such as the Expectancy-Value-Cost Scale and Self-Determination Theory. The findings revealed that the time commitment and lack of awareness were significant barriers to participation in these activities. To make student innovation competitions, exhibitions, and training programs more accessible and relatable to all students, higher education institutions should consider reframing these events and developing them, requiring less time commitment. The Expectancy-Value-Cost-based framework used in this study is also promising to study students’ engagement with entrepreneurship and innovation-focused co-curricular activities.