The role of structured interventions in shaping graduate entrepreneurship is examined. Recognizing the need for more research in the area of graduate entrepreneurship and drawing on the reserves of Irish 3rd level institutions and, in particular, data available from the Irish Industrial Development Authority (IDA) on students who participated in the IDA Annual Student Enterprise Award 1984-1988, the groundwork is laid for assessing the productivity of enterprise development initiatives taken at the undergraduate level. An attempt is made to establish that education is a vital ingredient in the development of an entrepreneurial base. Higher education is a decided advantage in coping with the complexities and problems of modern business, and highly qualified graduates are a striking source of potential entrepreneurial talent.