1. WWW.ECE.NL
Global University Entrepreneurial
Spirit Students’ Survey 2013-2014
/ Main Findings in the Netherlands
ERASMUS
CENTRE FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2. Colofon
|| Published by
Erasmus Centre for
Entrepreneurship
|| Text and Editing
Andreas Petridis
|| Layout and DTP
Dito Yudhiana
Thomas Bijen

3. Preface
What are students’ entrepreneurial intentions and activities
across the world?
This question is of highest social and economic relevance.
Students represent the entrepreneurs of tomorrow; their
entrepreneurial plans and activities will shape tomorrow’s
societies and the overall economic well-being. Consequently,
the numbers of students intending to pursue an
entrepreneurial career, along with the methods of actualizing
their intentions, are of high interest to different stakeholders
such as participating universities, academics, policy-makers, as
well as students themselves.
It is extremely important to monitor, evaluate and adapt
the entrepreneurial education to the rapidly changing
environment, so it can remain competitive, effective,
successful and accelerate the Dutch economy.
GUESSS performs the important task of monitoring, by
tracking the entrepreneurial intentions and activities of
students along with the entrepreneurial programs offered by
the Dutch universities.
In this booklet we present the insights of the 2013-2014
GUESSS Netherlands. We would like to thank the participating
universities for their collaboration in the survey and to invite
all possible parties such as policy makers, researchers,
entrepreneurs, other universities, teachers, students and
society in general to consult our valuable results and be part of
the survey in the upcoming years.

4. GUESSS stands for Global Entrepreneurial
Spirit Students’ Survey. It is a
research project about the context of
Entrepreneurship that investigates the
entrepreneurial intentions and activities of
students using a geographical and temporal
comparison.
GUESSS main goals:
|| The startup process
GUESSS helps to systematically record the founding
intention and activity of students on a long term basis
|| The university
GUESSS offers a temporal and geographical comparison
providing universities with insight into the organization of
entrepreneurship
|| The individual
GUESSS allows for a temporal and geographical
comparison of individual-based characteristics that impact
the founding intentions and activity of students. The survey
is conducted every two years
About GUESS

5. Main Findings
Percentage of Active Student
Entrepreneurs in the Netherlands
Percentage of Active Student
Entrepreneurs around the World
Attendence of Entrepreneurship
Courses in Percentage
2013-14: 6%
2011-12: 3%
Career Choice Intensions in the
Netherlands in Percentage
2013-14: 6%
2011-12: 10%
2013-14: 30%
2011-12: 36%
Right after studies:
Five years after
studies:
2013-14: 8%
2011-12: 2%
2013-14: 33%
2011-12: 28%

6. 9907 Students from Dutch
Educational Institutions
*Educational institutions with systematic data collection (>20 responses)
*Total responses in 2011-2012: 13121
Educational Institutions* Responses
32
59
1060
188
140
23
1402
41
96
Delft University
Eindhoven University of Technology
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Maastricht University
Leiden University
Tilburg University
University of Groningen
University of Twente
Utrecht University
University of Scientific Education (WO)
Fontys Univ. of Appl Sciences
The Hague Univ. of Appl. Sciences
Hanze Univ. of Appl. Sciences
Inholland Univ. of Appl. Sciences
Rotterdam Univ. of Appl. Sciences
NHTV Breda Univ. of Appl. Sciences
Univ. of Appl. Sciences Leiden
Univ. of Appl. Sciences Utrecht
1355
297
1476
833
540
150
46
1838
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Albeda 147
College (MBO)
Responses in 2013-2014

7. Data Overview
Level of StudyEducational Institution
38.4%61.6%
Male
Female
68.2%31.8%
Univ. of Appl.
Sciensces (HBO)
Universities of
Scientific Education
(WO)
1.9% 0.3%
Postdoc / MBA
PhD (Doctorate)
Graduate (Master)
Undergraduate
(Bachelor)
17.1%
80.8%
17.1%
34.9%
31%
24.8%
9.3%
Buseiness, Economics
and Law (BECL)
Natural Sciences
and Medicine (NSM)
Social Sciences (SSC)
Other
Gender Field of Study

8. Active Entrepreneurs
6% of the students are active entrepreneurs*.
On average, the distribution of active entrepreneur
students among the educational institutions, is higher for
the Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO), compared to
Universities of Scientific Education (WO).
* Active entrepreneurs are the students who next to their studies run their
own business.

9. Active Entrepreneurs
Across Study Fields Across Gender and Study Field
NSM
BECL
SSC
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Male
Female
49.6%
50.4%
69.2%
30.8%
78.2%
21.8%
The majority of active entrepreneurs from the fields of
Business, Economics and Law (almost 80%) and the field
of Natural Sciences and Medicine (around 70%) are male,
while female active entrepreneurs are equal to male active
entrepreneurs in the field of Social sciences (around 50%).
*BECL: Business/Management, Economics, Law
*NSM: Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, Health Sciences etc
*SSC: Linguistics and Cultural Studies
24.9%
31.9%
43.2%
BECL
NSM
SSC
Students studying Business, Economics and Law represent
43% of active entrepreneurs, while Natural Sciences and
Medicine equals to one third of the sample (32%) and Social
Sciences represents one fourth of students who are currently
running their own business (25%).

10. Percentage of Active Entrepreneurs and Distribution among Universities
Active entrepreneurs
NO
6%
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
U
trecht
Fontys
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
H
anze
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
Erasm
us
U
niversity
Rotterdam
Inholland
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
Rotterdam
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
U
niversity
of G
roningen
The
H
ague
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
Albeda
M
aastricht U
niversity
U
trecht U
niversity
Leiden
U
niversity
N
H
TV
Breda
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
Eindhoven
U
niversity
of Technology
D
elft U
niversity
U
niv. of Appl. Sciences
Leiden
Average
8%
12%
16%
20%
4%
0%
17.8
15.5
12.5
11.8 11.5
10.8
10.1
6.2
3.5
1.4 1.2 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.4 0.4
Tilburg
U
niversity
0.0

11. Nascent Entrepreneurs
10% of the students are nascent entrepreneurs*.
On average , the distribution of nascent entrepreneurs among
the educational institutions, is higher for the Universities of
Applied Sciences (HBO), compared to Universities of Scientific
Education (WO).
* Nascent entrepreneurs are the students who are in the process
of setting-up their own business.
*2011-2012 Survey did not include Nascent Entrepreneurs.

12. Nascent Entrepreneurs
Students studying Business, Economics and Law represent
more than half of nascent entrepreneurs (54%), while the
rest two study fields (Natural Sciences and Medicine and Social
Sciences) share same percentages of students who are in the
process of setting their business (23%).
The majority of nascent entrepreneurs from the fields of
Business, Economics and Law and Natural Sciences and
Medicine are male (70% and 72% respectively), while female
nascent entrepreneurs are dominant in the field of Social
sciences (60%).
Across Study Fields Across Gender and Study Field
NSM
BECL
SSC
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Male
Female
40%
60%
72%
28%
70%
30%
23.1%
22.9%
54%
BECL
NSM
SSC
*BECL: Business/Management, Economics, Law
*NSM: Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, Health Sciences etc
*SSC: Linguistics and Cultural Studies

13. Percentage of Nascent Entrepreneurs and Distribution among
Universities
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
U
trecht
Fontys
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
H
anze
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
Erasm
us
U
niversity
Rotterdam
Inholland
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
Rotterdam
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
U
niversity
ofG
roningen
The
H
ague
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
Albeda
M
aastrichtU
niversity
U
trechtU
niversity
Leiden
U
niversity
N
H
TV
Breda
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
Eindhoven
U
niversity
ofTechnology
D
elftU
niversity
U
niv.ofAppl.Sciences
Leiden
Tilburg
U
niversity
Average
8%
12%
16%
20%
4%
0%
16.1
15
12.1 12.1
11.1
10.2
8.7
5.9
4.5
3.1
1.4 1.3 1.2 1 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.2
Nascent entrepreneurs
NO
10%

14. Active & Nascent Entrepreneurs
across Countries
In the Netherlands, the level of active and nascent
entrepreneurs is below the average international level.
On particular, we note that the average level of students
are currently trying to set up their own business (nascent
entrepreneurs) is 19% while 8% are already running one
worldwide (active entrepreneurs). In the Netherlands the
level of nascent and active entrepreneurs is 10% and 6%,
respectively.

15. On an average international level, 8% of the students
are active entrepreneurs while 19% are nascent.
In the Netherlands, 6% of the students are active entrepreneurs
while 10% are nascent.
>60%
40-60%
20-40%
10-20%
<10%
Percentage of Active & Nascent Entrepreneurs around the World

16. 29
29 27
16
13
7 5 10 13
4
9 6
11 8 9 7 8 6 4 5 7 6 3 3 4 1 5 5 3 4 4 2 5
3 4
71 51 52 38 27 24 27 21 18 27 21 22 17 19 18 18 16 15 16 14 12 10 12 11 9 11 7 7 8 8 7 9 5 5 3
N
G
R
ARG
M
YS
M
EX
C
O
L
H
U
N
RO
M
G
RE
LIE
PO
L
AU
S
RU
S
U
SAAverage
EST
EN
G
C
AN
BRA
SIN
PO
R
FIN
FRA
BEL
ESP
JPN
G
ER
D
EN
ISR
ITA
SC
O
LU
X
AU
T
SU
I
SLO
N
ETH
ERLAN
D
SNascent Entrepreneurs Active Entrepreneurs
Percentage of Active & Nascent Entrepreneurs across Countries

17. Career Choice Intentions
The students who are or want to become Founders or
Successors represent the student entrepreneurs.
In GUESSS, the vast majority of student, prefer to become
employees right after study completion. Five years after
studies, more than half of the students still want to be
employees, while almost one third wants to become
entrepreneur.

18. Right after Studies Five Years after Studies
3.4%
27.1%
52.7%
16.8%
Successor
Founder
Employee
Other/
no plans
Right after studies only 6% of the students intend to become
entrepreneurs, either as founders (5%) or as successors (1%)
5 years after studies 30% of the students intend to become
entrepreneurs, either as founders (27%) or as successors (3%).
0.8%
4.8%
14.3%
80.1%
Successor
Founder
Employee
Other/
no plans
Career Choice Intentions

19. Career Choice Intentions across Gender
Directly after study, women are less likely than men to
have the intention of becoming entrepreneurs. 8% of the
male students aim to become entrepreneurs versus 4% of the
female students.
Five years after students complete their studies, 35% of the
male students intend to become entrepreneurs versus 28%
of the female students. This is a dramatic increase compared
to entrepreneurial intentions right after study completion.
Right after Study
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
80.7 15.5
3.3 0.6
79.1 12.57.2
1.2
Male
Female
Employee
Founder
Successor
Other/
no plans
5 Years after Study
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
55.1 17.324.5
49 15.931.3Male
Female
3.2
3.8
Employee
Founder
Successor
Other/
no plans

20. Career Choice Intentions 5 Years after Study
Is there a difference between the educational institutions?
In HBOs, there are more students that want to become
entrepreneurs, compared to WOs.
In particular, 32% of the HBO students want to pursue a career
in entrepreneurship, against 27% of the WO students.
Across Study Fields Across Type of Educational
Institutions
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
53.2 19.824.9
2.2
55.7 19.822
2.5
51.7 11.431.5
NSM
SSC
BECL
5.4
Employee
Founder
Successor
Other/
no plans
HBO
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
50.9 28.8 17.1
WO 57.6 15.922.9
3.7
3.2
Employee
Founder
Successor
Other/
no plans
*BECL: Business/Management, Economics, Law
*NSM: Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, Health Sciences etc
*SSC: Linguistics and Cultural Studies
*WO: Universities of Scientific Education
*HBO: Universities of Applied Sciences
What are the career choice intentions across the different
study fields*?
Students form the field of BECL, have higher interest on
becoming entrepreneurs, 5 years after completing their
studies.

21. Entrepreneurship Education in The Netherlands
Overall, 33% of the students have attended an
entrepreneurship course.
20% of these students have attended at least one
entrepreneurship course as compulsory part of their study
while 13% as an elective or specific program.
Attendance of Entrepreneurship Courses
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Attended at least one
entrepreneurship course as elective
I am studying in a specific
program in entrepreneurship
Attended at least one entrepreneurship
course as compulsory part of my studies
Not attended a course
on entrepreneurship so far
66.8%
20.4%
8.5%
4.3%
100%

22. National Report for The Netherlands
In the national report for the Netherlands you can also find
more detailed information about:
|| Participants and Sample in the Netherlands
|| Students Career Choice Intentions
|| Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intentions
|| Student Nascent Entrepreneurs
|| Student Active Entrepreneurs
Global University Entrepreneurial
Spirit Students’ Survey
National Report for the Netherlands 2013-2014
WWW.ECE.NL
ERASMUS
CENTRE FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

23. Get the National Report Online
WWW.ECE.NL

24. ERASMUS
CENTRE FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
VISIT USERASMUS CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ECE CAMPUS (ROTTERDAM SCIENCE TOWER, 11TH FLOOR)
MARCONISTRAAT 16
3029 AK ROTTERDAM
TEL. 010 408 1971
WWW.ECE.NL
ECE, an initiative of the
Erasmus University and has
the ambition to empower
a global community of
entrepreneurs who are
able to face challenges
and make global impact.