The Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Programme (EMDP) in Andhra Pradesh

Assessing the effectiveness of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Programme in fostering an entrepreneurial outlook among students in Andhra Pradesh.

Project Introduction

The Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Programme (EMDP) was implemented during the 2022–2023 academic year across public schools in Andhra Pradesh, seeking to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking among Grade 9 students through a focus on self-agency, goal setting, financial literacy, and risk-taking. Delivered with the State Council of Educational Research and Training–Andhra Pradesh, the curriculum combined weekly instructional classes totalling up to 50 hours with project-based learning, positioning entrepreneurship as a mindset that builds resilience, innovation, and problem-solving alongside traditional academic instruction.

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Researchers

Project Methodology

The study followed an intent-to-treat estimation framework, with data collected on behavioural traits, entrepreneurial skills, aspirations, and academic performance, alongside covariates including demographic characteristics, parental background, prior exposure to entrepreneurship, school features, and local labour market conditions. As a practical application of programme skills, students completed three small projects and one major project addressing community challenges, culminating in an incentivized business-pitch exercise modelled on Shark Tank that objectively evaluated entrepreneurial competencies and presentation skills.

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Impact

Students who participated in the EMDP reported significantly greater control over their education, career goals, and personal aspirations than peers in the control group, with female students showing gains across all measured dimensions of empowerment, including agency, self-efficacy, and career aspirations. The programme’s impact varied by local labour market conditions — students in areas with more manufacturing jobs leaned toward entrepreneurship and private-sector work, while those in areas favouring government jobs, especially girls, showed reinforced interest in public-sector careers — demonstrating the programme’s adaptability to regional economic context.

Documentation

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