Toward explorative space

We are at the start of the research group ‘Entrepreneurship in Transition’, which is an initiative of Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Alfa-college to conduct research and valorise knowledge about the relationship between entrepreneurship and education, entrepreneurial success factors, retail and succession. In the research group, students of vocational education (mbo), university of applied sciences (hbo), staff and other partners involved, study the dynamics of entrepreneurship in the northern region of the Netherlands. Our goal is to contribute to a sustainable social, cultural and economic healthy region through research and practises. An important parameter for the research group is the concept of explorative space. In short is this a space where people and organisations are encouraged and welcomed to explore their potentialities and find ways to actualise them. This booklet is written as a metaphorical travel journey, it shows how the research group will move in the years to come. I present the crew, the vision and the ways we work. The last months have been busy, since we have already prepared and started this shared journey. During our preparations, we have made initial choices about travel companions , potential routes, visions on the trip, and the work ahead. Naturally, the team will make alterations, variations, and harmonisations over the course of the trip.