Academic Entrepreneurial Support, Social Capital, and Green Entrepreneurial Intention: Does Psychological Capital Matter for Young Saudi Graduates?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the crucial role that universities play in preparing future green entrepreneurs, as well as the importance of social capital in ensuring the necessary resources and emotional support to develop a green entrepreneurial intention among young graduates. This paper also seeks to show as well the importance of psychological capital as a variable between the academic support offered by universities and the development of a green entrepreneurial intention, and between the social capital of entrepreneurs and the development of a green entrepreneurial intention. The results of this research show strong support for green entrepreneurship through university programs and courses, which clearly have a positive impact on the intention to create green projects. Similarly, the social capital of recent graduates provides not only the necessary resources, but also moral, emotional, and material support. Moreover, green entrepreneurial intentions depend on the positive psychological capital that can be developed in an individual, which is precisely the feeling of personal efficacy and optimism about success. Thus, psychological capital moderates both the relationship between academic support for entrepreneurship and the intention to create green projects, and also the relationship between the latter variable and entrepreneurial social capital.