Entrepreneurial intention of university students: A moderated approach using entrepreneurship education

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy on their opportunity recognition capability after their exposure to classroom-based entrepreneurship education, leading to the development of intention to undertake an entrepreneurial activity. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data from 351 students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Results confirm that the student’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy positively influences their intention to undertake an entrepreneurial activity directly and indirectly via their opportunity recognition capability. Also, entrepreneurship education significantly moderates the link between students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy and opportunity recognition capability. These results have practical implications for universities and policymakers, as universities that are not providing entrepreneurship education can adopt the same module of classroom education. Also, policymakers can frame policies directing institutions to start similar kinds of entrepreneurship education programs, even at the intermediate level, particularly in lower-middle-income countries.