Impact of entrepreneurship programmes on university students

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate entrepreneurship in Malaga University based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour model. There are two objectives: to analyse the influence of the main elements of orientation to entrepreneurship and to evaluate the efficiency of education programmes in the university system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have chosen Ajzen’s influential model (1991) for analysing entrepreneurial intention as the basis for the analysis of a sample of 392 students at Malaga University.

Findings

The results suggest that the students’ predisposition to entrepreneurship is moderate because perceived risk and ideas about their own abilities hinder their decision to start up a business.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for universities involved in designing programmes aimed at business creation.

Social implications

This research provides interesting insights which could help new companies to be created, thus alleviating the unemployment resulting from the economic crisis.

Originality/value

With the help of this widely used theoretical model to study, the authors analyse the impact of Entrepreneurship Education Programmes in higher education. It is only a starting point from which to evaluate which elements should be reinforced in entrepreneurship programmes if they are to achieve effective results.

Citation

Iglesias-Sánchez, P.P., Jambrino-Maldonado, C., Velasco, A.P. and Kokash, H. (2016), "Impact of entrepreneurship programmes on university students", Education + Training, Vol. 58 No. 2, pp. 209-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-01-2015-0004