Rethinking Employability, Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education – A Unified 3E Approach

Dr Emily Beaumont, Associate Professor Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the University of Gloucestershire, Director of Enterprise Educators UK, Member of the AGCAS Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Task Group

In the world of Higher Education (HE), there’s been a long-standing debate about how we approach employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship.  These three areas have often been treated as separate topics, existing in silos. But in reality, they share a lot of similarities and there is growing recognition that they overlap in many ways including in the skills, mindset, and competencies they require. So why do universities often struggle to treat them as interconnected topics and activities?

What if these three concepts are pieces of the same puzzle?  Let’s take a step back and see whether we could bridge the gap between employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship.  Perhaps there exists a more unified approach that would better equip students for the challenges of the world of work. In this blog, we’ll dive into why the current siloed approach may not be doing us any favours and explore how embracing the “3Es” as one interconnected concept can benefit both students and the institutions that support them.

The Current Siloed Approach

For years, employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship have each been given their own space in university strategies and initiatives. Employability, traditionally, has been the most prominent of the three. Universities focus on making sure students have the skills and knowledge they need to get a job once they graduate — and for good reason. There’s a heavy emphasis on making students "job-ready," often measured by things like the Graduate Outcomes Survey, which asks graduates about their career path, experiences after leaving higher education, and how their education has contributed to their current situation. Adding to this emphasis is the significant influence of university league tables, which often use employability outcomes as a key metric for ranking institutions. Because these rankings are widely referenced by prospective students and other stakeholders, universities may feel the pressure to prioritise employability to maintain or improve their standing.

On the other hand, enterprise and entrepreneurship (often grouped together, despite important distinctions), while growing in importance, are often treated as secondary to employability as these areas often lack the same direct, measurable outcomes that influence league table performance.  Enterprise focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, useful not just for launching businesses, but for any role that requires innovation and flexibility. Entrepreneurship takes this a step further, specifically focusing on the creation of new ventures and the drive to bring ideas to life.

The problem with this siloed approach is that it fails to recognise the overlap between these areas. After all, many of the skills that make someone employable are the same skills that are essential for enterprise and entrepreneurship. But because they are presented as separate concepts, perhaps even existing as separate departments, students often miss the opportunity to see how these skills can be applied across different career paths.

The Growing Recognition of Overlap

Recently, there’s been a shift in how we view the relationship between employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship under the banner of the 3Es. More and more, we’re seeing a recognition that they aren’t isolated concepts. They share a significant overlap in the skills and competencies that are essential for success. For example, creativity, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability are critical in both entrepreneurial ventures and traditional employment roles. These competencies, and many others, are increasingly recognised as the building blocks of both employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship.

A recent survey of Careers Professionals in UK universities by the AGCAS Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Task Group, highlighted this shift in thinking. The majority of respondents agreed that there is a strong connection between employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship. Many pointed out that the skills required for one area are often applicable to the others. For instance, problem-solving isn’t just important for entrepreneurs launching a new product — it’s a crucial skill for employees in any industry. Whether you’re a software developer troubleshooting code, a marketing manager developing strategies to boost brand engagement or a healthcare professional finding solutions to patient care challenges, the ability to think critically and find effective solutions is essential in every role.

A Unified Approach to the 3Es

So, if the skills required for employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship are so closely linked, why not treat them as one cohesive strategy? The idea of a “unified 3E approach” is gaining traction in Higher Education and for good reason. By integrating these areas, we can ensure that students are not only prepared to enter the world of work, but are also equipped to thrive in an entrepreneurial and ever-changing job market.

This approach would mean recognising that students need to be more than just employable — they need to take the initiative, be adaptable, creative and much more. Universities can play a crucial role in helping students develop these 3E skills and competencies, by offering opportunities for hands-on learning and real-world experience. This could include things like internships, enterprise-focused projects, and mentorship from entrepreneurs or industry leaders.

But it’s not just about offering a few isolated programs — it’s about embedding these principles throughout the entire student experience. By weaving employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship into the curriculum, we can provide students with a more holistic education that prepares them for the multifaceted challenges they’ll face in their careers.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action for Universities

The shift toward a unified 3E approach is not something that will happen overnight. It requires a cultural shift within universities, where employability, enterprise, and entrepreneurship are seen as part of a larger, integrated strategy for student success. Universities will need to invest in resources, training, and support for Careers Professionals and academics, and embed these concepts into the broader curriculum. But the payoff is worth it.

By embracing the 3E approach, universities can better prepare their students for the challenges of the modern workforce. Students will graduate with a deeper understanding of how 3E skills and competencies are connected and how they can apply them in a variety of contexts. In doing so, we can help create a generation of graduates who are not only job-ready, but also equipped to innovate, lead, and thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.

For more information on the 3Es, listen to The 3E podcast.