University Entrepreneurship Training as a Lever for the Professional Integration of Graduates in Algeria

In Algeria, persistent unemployment among higher education graduates and weak professional integration have prompted public authorities and universities to promote entrepreneurship as a strategic alternative. This study examines the role of university entrepreneurial training delivered through Entrepreneurship Houses in the business creation process among young graduates in central Algeria (Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, Béjaïa, Boumerdès and Algiers). Drawing on a mixed methods design, we collected quantitative data from 200 graduate entrepreneurs who benefited from this training and qualitative data based on semi-structured interviews conducted with managers and trainers from the Entrepreneurship House. The findings indicate that training significantly strengthens the decision to become an entrepreneur and develops personal, business and technical skills essential for project realisation, particularly during the early stages of the entrepreneurial process. However, the study reveals structural limitations, including the lack of post-creation follow-up, insufficient personalised coaching and the marginal use of experiential learning methods. This study contributes to the growing body of research on entrepreneurship education in developing economies and offers recommendations for improving university support mechanisms by highlighting the importance of integrating entrepreneurial training, institutional support and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.