Entrepreneurial Education and Training as Catalysts for Youth Start-Up Enterprise Success and Local Economic Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.689Keywords:
Entrepreneurial Education, Local Economic Development, Start-Up Success, Training, Youth EntrepreneurshipAbstract
Youth unemployment and slow local economic growth remain persistent challenges in many developing economies. Entrepreneurial education and training have increasingly been recognized as important tools for promoting youth start-up enterprise success and stimulating local economic development. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of entrepreneurial education and training in enhancing the success of youth start-ups and their contribution to local economic development. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology, drawing on recent peer reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and entrepreneurship studies published between 2020 and 2026. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial education improves business knowledge, opportunity recognition, financial literacy, innovation capacity, and business survival rates among youth entrepreneurs. Training programs that include mentorship, practical incubation, and financial management skills were found to significantly improve start-up sustainability. The study further finds that successful youth enterprises contribute to job creation, income generation, and local economic diversification. However, gaps remain in access to training, funding support, and long-term mentorship programs. The study concludes that entrepreneurial education and training play a critical role in improving youth enterprise success and supporting local economic development. The paper recommends stronger collaboration between universities, government, and private sector institutions to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and training programmes for youth entrepreneurs.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Humphrey Motsepe, Mahlodi Joice Sethu, Hasani Elia Zitha, Sheperd Sikhosana (Author)
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