In the Industry 4.0 era, entrepreneurial education is no longer merely an economic trend but has become a core competency enabling high school students to adapt to a volatile labor market. This paper examines the perceptions of high school students in Hanoi regarding entrepreneurial activities to propose solutions for building a sustainable school-based startup ecosystem. The study was conducted through a quantitative survey of 1,200 students at 6 representative high schools in both urban and suburban areas.

The findings reveal a significant shift in the mindset of students in the capital: 41.9% define entrepreneurship as a creative activity associated with social value, rather than purely profit-oriented goals. Although the entrepreneurial spirit is widespread, with 65% of students highly valuing the importance of this field, a “perception gap” persists, as nearly 30% of students consider it merely a secondary option. Notably, the school startup ecosystem lacks practical connectivity: 70% of students access information primarily through social media, while only 4% have had direct experiential opportunities at enterprises.

Based on empirical evidence, this paper asserts that entrepreneurship at the high school level should be framed as a process of “experiential learning” and “creation.” Consequently, the authors propose a set of strategic solutions: developing a standardized entrepreneurial competency framework, establishing a connectivity network between schools and local enterprises, and transitioning training methods from passive communication to direct practical engagement. These solutions aim to elevate awareness and transform students’ creative entrepreneurial ideas into practical actions, contributing to the realization of the innovation-oriented education strategy in Hanoi.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial mindset, high school students, startup ecosystem, Hanoi.