General self-efficacy and entrepreneurial abilities of the female pre-service preschool teachers

Abstract

It is believed that the self-efficacy and entrepreneurial abilities of the pre-service preschool teachers are important characteristics that influence the quality of educational work and create opportunities for the development of competencies for the lifelong learning of students/children. The aim of the research is to examine the general self-efficacy and entrepreneurial abilities of the female pre-service preschool teachers after the implemented program for encouraging entrepreneurship. The research was conducted on a sample of 132 female students in the second, third, and fourth year of undergraduate studies (N=132). Future teachers estimate that their general self-efficacy and entrepreneurial abilities are above average after the implemented program. There is a positive, moderate correlation between the level of the general self-efficacy of the pre-service preschool teachers and their evaluation of their entrepreneurial abilities. The students' grades are in a positive weak correlation with the level of the general self-efficacy, and in a positive, very weak correlation with the level of their entrepreneurial abilities. The level of the general self-efficacy and the level of the entrepreneurial abilities differ relative to the year of study (the second-year female students have the highest scores on both scales, followed by the fourth-year female students, while the third-year female students have the lowest scores on both scales), which indicates the need for further research into factors that contributed to it. We cannot claim with certainty that the implementation of the short-term program for encouraging entrepreneurship, integrated into the academic courses, affected any variable. It is necessary to think further about the models of introducing entrepreneurship education in the initial education of the preschool teachers, as well as about adequate techniques and instruments for researching this issue.