A Study of the Convergence Between Entrepreneurship, Government Policy, and Higher Education in Oman

Abstract

This chapter examines the inter-relationships between government policy and higher education in the development of entrepreneurship in Oman. Grounded in Isenberg's entrepreneurship ecosystem framework, the role of higher education in driving entrepreneurialism, as a distinct subset of ‘education capital', is examined in the context of policy development and implementation in Oman. Interviews are utilised to gain insights into government initiatives deployed in the Omani higher education sector to develop indigenous entrepreneurs. Findings point to a dislocation between the approaches adopted in Omani higher education institutions and the context in which they have been employed. This is evidenced through three emergent themes: a desire for ‘joined-up' policy on entrepreneurship, the role of higher education institutions in encouraging entrepreneurship, and the challenge of work preference. The study concludes that a lack of holistic appreciation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem precludes the emergence of entrepreneurship as a driver of sustainable economic development in Oman.