Formation of the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Young Mexicans: Challenges and Opportunities in the Upper Secondary Education

Abstract

The National College of Technical Occupational Education (CONALEP), located in Santiago Huajolotitlán, Oaxaca, Mexico, is concerned for the future of its graduates, and in accordance with the National Plan of Development 2007-2011, in 2008 it incorporated the impetus to productive entrepreneurship, through the integration of the subject of Business Training, in the study programs of its educational offer. This paper analyzes the Entrepreneurship experiences of CONALEP graduates, Campus 145. These ventures have been deployed under certain socio-economic conditions and with certain knowledge acquired during the technical training of students, which may or may not facilitate the creation of new enterprises by them. The research is qualitative, interviews were conducted with graduate students to know the way in which they started and developed their companies. The findings indicate that it is necessary to perform some academic activities that reinforce the development of entrepreneurship skills so that the students consider that starting a business is a viable option of self-employment. Given the unemployment rates prevailing in the country, it is imperative to encourage the creation of new companies, this research contributes to some alternatives aimed at promoting and developing the entrepreneurship of graduates from higher education institutions such as Conalep.