Building the Road to Green Entrepreneurial Orientation in Higher Education and Research : Sharing Experience and Looking Ahead

Abstract

The Green Entrepreneurial approach is an important trend in strengthening education and research in Europe and in the world. The article examines a concept of green entrepreneurship and development of “skills ecosystems” as a dimension in university education and research. This methodology serves as a tool for integrating a number of main goals focused on providing high quality vocational skills to young people and contributing to regional deve lopment, innovation, smart specialisation and social inclusion. The article discusses how educational institutions must respond to the challenges in providing a high-quality research-training environment. The authors show that the establishment of dual education and related research at university level is an evident strategy for higher education institutions as this will give students an opportunity to acquire solid knowledge about subject matters and contribute to build a stimulating research environment. This contribu tion aims to offer insight into the implications in relation to the need to expand and adapt the content and the approach of Green Entrepreneurship and innovation in dual educational programmes and research in the EU and Latvia. The development of analytical skills and specialist knowledge promoted by dual education is a particular asset in areas, where in-depth knowledge of the green entrepreneurial orientation approach is key to research excellence.