Determining the Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Intention Among Uum Students

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate web of variables influencing entrepreneurial intentions among graduate students at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Despite a decline in Malaysia’s overall unemployment rate, the employability of graduates has emerged as a pressing concern. Ministry of Education reported in The Graduate Tracer Malaysia 2019 that a substantial 60% of Malaysian graduates remain unemployed a year post-graduation. In light of this context, the research identifies and examines five crucial antecedents that shape entrepreneurial intentions. Employing a comprehensive survey, each variable — knowledge, environment, subjective norm, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial intention — is meticulously gauged using a 7-point interval scale. Employing the drop-off/pick-up method, 250 questionnaires were disseminated, yielding 206 completed responses. The collected data underwent rigorous analysis employing structural equation modeling (SEM) thru the application of AMOS 20 software. This paper not only presents the empirical findings but also engenders a nuanced discussion around them, thus paving the way for prospective directions of future study.