This question is quite tricky.....
I did my lit review on this subject matter on the earlier part for my now concluded MPhil Thesis. Very much debatable topic, but it is worthwhile to continuously exploring this area.
Some scholars said NO, you can't teach a person to become entrepreneur because not everyone has the entrepreneurial traits. Over years, many scholars proved that entrepreneurs have common traits like: high locus of control, high need of achievement, independent person, brave, risk taker etc....
The real evidence to support this argument is that a successful entrepreneur is not necessary a successful person in their academic performance...basically, you don't have to score As for your entrepreneur or business subject in order for you to become a successful business owner. Some of leading examples are; Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Lim Goh Tong and Syed Mukhtar al Bukhari.
On the other hand, some said YES, entrepreneur is a system that can be taught. If you can imitate the system and behavior of entrepreneur, then you can become an entrepreneur. What you need is to follow the disciplines correctly. The things that you can learn in entrepreneurship courses are quite generic in nature. Such examples are like scanning for business opportunities, preparing market research, thinking creatively and innovate products and others.
One of the evidence to support this argument is why this entrepreneurship courses become popular in universities and colleges all around the world? That means it is proven that entrepreneurs can be taught in the higher education institutes.
For me, as an entrepreneurship educator, I would like to take the middle path. You yourself must possess and sharpen certain entrepreneurial traits and at the same time learn various entrepreneurship skills and knowledge to develop yourself as an entrepreneur. With the combination of both worlds, I am pretty sure you will be able to see thing clearly.
The key word here is Iqra' or Read.... You have to read yourself (personality) and you have to read your surrounding (environment, family, society). By reading and reflecting the 2 dimensions, slowly but surely you will discover your entrepreneurial spirit.
Nevertheless, I would like to share my insight about universities' entrepreneurship undertaking in a book chapter i wrote based on my MPhil in the link below. Enjoy!!
http://www.intechopen.com/books/entrepreneurship-born-made-and-educated/university-s-entrepreneurship-education-creating-meaningful-impression-for-new-generation
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