Entrepreneurial competence perceived by university students: Quantitative and descriptive analysis

Abstract

According to the scientific literature, the entrepreneur is the key to entrepreneurship, which is an essential process for the economic and social development of a country. Within the framework of the psychological traits or attributes of the entrepreneur, entrepreneurial skills and vocation, which are the prelude to entrepreneurial intention and behaviour, are currently necessary – considering that young people will form the next generation of entrepreneurs and that higher education plays a fundamental role in entrepreneurship. This paper's main objective is to analyse university students' perceptions about their competence and vocation for entrepreneurship in this context. The research has been carried out in a sample of Spanish university students (N=380) using a quantitative, descriptive, and discriminant methodology. The obtained results allow us to conclude that young people view entrepreneurship competencies positively and have a vocation for entrepreneurship but do not consider themselves competent or self-efficient. Further, specific and significant gender differences have been identified in young people's perceptions, in line with other authors' conclusions and with the GEM reports. All these findings, which make up novel contributions, are of great use in promoting entrepreneurship in university.