MODERN METHODS OF TRAINING ENTREPRENEURS: FOREIGN PRACTICES AND INSTRUMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF UNEC)

Abstract

In the context of rapid digital transformation, economic globalization, and intensifying labor market competition, the role of entrepreneurship as a critical driver of sustainable economic growth is steadily increasing. Ensuring the effective preparation of future entrepreneurs necessitates a transition from traditional educational paradigms toward flexible, innovative, and practice-oriented models. This study examines contemporary approaches to entrepreneurial education, with particular emphasis on international practices and potential tools for their adaptation to the national higher education system, including the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC).The research encompasses a broad spectrum of relevant issues, ranging from the historical evolution of entrepreneurship education in the United States, Europe, and Asia to case analyses of startup incubators, acceleration programs, and project-based learning models. Drawing on an analytical review of global entrepreneurship training initiatives, the article proposes modern frameworks for fostering entrepreneurial competencies and highlights the principal challenges impeding the advancement of this field within university ecosystems. A comparative analysis of successful university-based entre-preneurial ecosystems is presented, supplemented by evidence-based recommend-dations for transforming entrepreneur-ship education in Azerbaijan. The article integrates analytical tables and up-to-date references from 2023–2024, thereby contributing both to the theoretical discourse on entrepreneurial education and to its practical application for researchers, educators, and policymakers.