The benefits of simulations in entrepreneurship education: presentation of a start-up simulation approach and evaluation r esults

It is very common to argue traditional teaching method, e.g. classical lectures, case studies, cannot cover the requirements of an entrepreneurship education, but business simulations can help compensating these deficits. Until now, there is little empirical evidence about the contribution of business simulations to entrepreneurial competencies. On the basis of the prevailing used business simulation in Germany for the start up business - TOPSIM Startup -these issues will be traced by a theory-based evaluation approach. The business simulation TOP-SIM-Startup tries to represent the complexity and the relevant variables in different start-up situations and covers all stages of a start-up business: from collecting information checking the business idea up to transforming the business idea to a successful company in a competitive situation. The modular set-up of the simulations offers a wide variety of uses: Trade (E-Commerce), Service (Fitness-studios), Production (High-Tech-sport goods) and High-tech (Biotech).