Pedagogical alignment for entrepreneurial development

The challenges of the 4th Industrial Age have created a fundamental change which is starting a new chapter in human development. The relationship with technology now impacts significantly upon every aspect of life including work and has changed the demands placed upon each worker (Schwab 2016). For students and graduates, life has never been more uncertain. They need to be entrepreneurial in order to overcome new challenges, embrace constant changes and thrive in work and personal life. The role of education, from primary to higher, is increasingly to prepare students for the workplace, for jobs and careers that do not yet exist, as well as build up their capacity to cope with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk. Education can be the key to supporting future generations to thrive through change. It is against this global background that this Special Issue is published to explore the theme of “pedagogical alignment”. By exploring entrepreneurial development through a wide range of diverse examples, this Special Edition evidences the case for alignment as it explores entrepreneurial development through consideration of policy, school education, staff development and start-up.