The effect of business and economics education programs on students' entrepreneurial intention

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to evaluate the effect of participation in business and economics education programs on the student's entrepreneurial intention in terms of perceptions of the desirability and personal feasibility of starting a business. Design/methodology/approach -The methodology used to measure the student's entrepreneurial intention is the data envelopment analysis (DEA). This approach involves mathematical programming and as a new tool in this field has permitted enrichment of the results achieved. Findings -Results reveal that the explanatory factors for both types of students are different. This could be explained because the students choose one career or another according to their expectations of employment. In this sense, the student's entrepreneurial intention decreases in the business students when they progress in their studies and they are closer in contact with the business reality. However, the student's entrepreneurial intention increases in the case of business students when they choose a future work option different to work in public administration. Research limitations/implications -Although the work reaches conclusive findings, further research is required in a longitudinal way. Practical implications -The article provides new methodology and results in the field of entrepreneurship and employability in higher education in Spain. Originality/value -In the context of the theory of planned behavior, the article is innovative on a methodological level in arguing for "connected" perceptions of the desirability and personal feasibility of starting a business with an approach toward employability and enterprise development for students. The authors think that the understanding of the sources of "entrepreneurial intention" at the students' level is crucial for policymakers to develop appropriate educational polices to improve entrepreneurship performances.

Factors which Influence Students Enterpreneurship Intentions: The Role of Education Programs, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control

“…), whereas others have looked into factors such as educational programs, subjective norms or perceived behavioral control. Part of the research literature on entrepreneurial intention stresses the importance of entrepreneurial education as an influencing factor (De Jorge-Moreno et al, 2012, Lee et al, 2005. They argue that college-educated people are more likely to act on their entrepreneurial intentions (Arenius and Minniti, 2005).…”

The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention of University Students by Adopting Linan Model

“…Thus, they can utilize the existing potential in a proportionate manner to provide new jobs (Adejimola & Olufunmilayo, 2009). Moreover, some ways should be prepared for college students to have the desire and intention about entrepreneurship, so the availability of new jobs are provided (De Jorge-Moreno, 2012). To realize these graduates as young entrepreneurs, the government should also create policies that can support entrepreneurship nuanced social conditions other than entrepreneurial education by universities (Mason & Brown, 2013).…”

Development of Entrepreneurial Attitudes Assessment Instrument for Freshman Students

“…Similarly, Moreno uses a modified EAO instrument to track changes in student intention during an educational intervention 19 . The instrument has also been used to compare community college and university students 33 and measure the change in students during participation in an incubator program 42 .…”

“…These oblique content-outcome relationships exist within the lack of findings in literature that support a causal link between skills useful to entrepreneurs and the likelihood or interest of a student practicing entrepreneurship 18 . Some studies have actually correlated 'entrepreneurship skills' to a decrease in entrepreneurial intention 19,20 . This separation between skills and intention is not strictly kept in much of the literature in the field.…”

“…These characteristics make the use of attitude measures a highly interesting approach to the study of student entrepreneurship in educational environments. Beyond Robinson's detailed analysis of attitude theory, multiple authors in the entrepreneurship field, including Moreno 19 , Zappe 27 , and Graevenitz 28 have used attitude theory to develop psychometric instruments.…”