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The role of entrepreneurship education as a predictor of university students’ entrepreneurial intention

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Abstract

Using Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior and Shapero’s entrepreneurial event model as well as entrepreneurial cognition theory, we attempt to identify the relationship between entrepreneurship education, prior entrepreneurial exposure, perceived desirability and feasibility, and entrepreneurial intentions (EI) for university students. The data were collected from a survey of ten universities; we received 494 effective responses. We used probit estimation to show that perceived desirability significantly impacts EI whereas there is no significant impact from perceived feasibility. There is a significant negative impact from exposure (which is surprising) and a significant positive impact from entrepreneurship education. Males and people from technological universities and/or backgrounds have higher EI than females and people from other universities and backgrounds. There are also significant positive interactive effects by gender, university type, and study major on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and EI.

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Notes

  1. Source: People’s Daily Online (Sept. 17, 2011), http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/90862/7598064.html

  2. A technological university is a university specializing in engineering science and technology.

  3. A confirmed factor analysis showed that these four categories represent exposure to entrepreneurial activity.

  4. Source: Chinese University Students’ Career Guide, Nov. 21, 2011.

  5. EI can have a positive impact on entrepreneurial behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Ying Zhang

  2. Eindhoven University of Technology and Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Tilburg University, Warandalaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Geert Duysters

  3. Industrial Engineering / ITEM, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

    Myriam Cloodt

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  1. Ying Zhang
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  2. Geert Duysters
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Correspondence to Ying Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Duysters, G. & Cloodt, M. The role of entrepreneurship education as a predictor of university students’ entrepreneurial intention. Int Entrep Manag J 10, 623–641 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-012-0246-z

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