Examining the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Perceived Behaviour, Intentions, and Competencies as Catalysts for Sustainable Growth: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

This research was undertaken with the objective of relating entrepreneurial perceived behaviour (EPB) and entrepreneurial intentions (EI) with students’ perceptions of the United Nations sustainable development goals. The current research advances on from EPB and EI to analyse whether the study of entrepreneurial competencies (ECs) enhance the impact of EI on sustainable growth. Sustainable growth is measured through the perception of students regarding the United Nations SDGs, measured through SDG3, SDG8, SDG9, and SDG10. Earlier studies have linked EPB with EIs as entrepreneurship, in the long run, has to focus on sustainable growth. EPB comprises entrepreneurial attitude, perceived behavioural control and subjective norms. ECs comprise leadership skills (LS); risk-taking skills (RTS); opportunity identification skills (OIS); perseverance skills (PS); and societal skills (SS). The study is based on a survey with data collected through a structured questionnaire from 480 engineering students. SEM-PLs was used to analyse the results. The outcomes suggest a direct relationship between EPB and EI, and EI and sustainable growth. However, as the main objective of the study was to find whether ECs enhance the impact of EIs with respect to ECs on sustainable growth, the results provide empirical support for EM-EI(ECs)-SG as there is a positive and significant indirect effect, suggesting complementary action, thus validating the proposed theoretical sustainable growth (SG). These outcomes suggest that there is a need to focus on ECs to improve the impact of EIs on SG.

Entrepreneurship among Social Workers: Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals

“…Governments in developing economies are increasingly acknowledging the potential of entrepreneurs, leading to accelerated initiatives in curriculum development and entrepreneurship education programs in higher education institutions since the 1980s [27]. Like entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intention can be intrinsically linked to the SDGs in various ways, contributing to initiatives that address socioeconomic and environmental issues [28,29]. Thus, entrepreneurial intention can catalyze the advancement of various goals and objectives outlined in the SDGs, providing a dynamic approach to tackling social and environmental challenges [28,29].…”

“…Like entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intention can be intrinsically linked to the SDGs in various ways, contributing to initiatives that address socioeconomic and environmental issues [28,29]. Thus, entrepreneurial intention can catalyze the advancement of various goals and objectives outlined in the SDGs, providing a dynamic approach to tackling social and environmental challenges [28,29].…”

“…By establishing new businesses, entrepreneurship makes a substantial contribution to SDG 8, fostering sustainable economic growth and generating employment opportunities [28][29][30][31]. Simultaneously, entrepreneurial activities positively impact reducing inequality (SDG 10) and combating poverty (SDG 1) by providing economic opportunities and empowering communities [2,32,33].…”

“…The recognition of the transformative potential of entrepreneurs has led to the accelerated development of curricula and entrepreneurship education programs, thereby supporting SDG 4, ensuring quality education [29,33]. Entrepreneurship education not only equips individuals with the skills to navigate the dynamic business landscape but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities [28,29,32]. By incorporating practical experiences and real-world challenges into educational frameworks, entrepreneurship education becomes a powerful tool for preparing individuals to contribute meaningfully to society.…”

“…Entrepreneurial intention can positively influence SDG 3 by driving initiatives aimed at disease prevention, promoting mental health, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, and developing innovative solutions for medical challenges [28,29,32,33]. Moreover, entrepreneurs can play a crucial role in establishing social enterprises focused on health, addressing issues such as basic sanitation, access to clean water, and disseminating information about healthy practices [6,28,32].…”