Entrepreneurial intentions of university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Innovation Science
ISSN: 1757-2223
Article publication date: 5 September 2022
Issue publication date: 23 August 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of theory of planned behaviour (TPB) motivational factors, social valuation of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial risk perception in predicting entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) of university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach was adopted, and a sample of 802 students from a large public university in Saudi Arabia is studied. Structural equation modelling is used to test the relationships among the conceptual model constructs.
Findings
This study found a negative and significant impact of entrepreneurial risk perception on student’s entrepreneurial attitude, perceived behavioural control (PBC) and intention. Social valuation of entrepreneurship was found to have a positive and significant impact on entrepreneurial attitude, PBC and subjective norms. This study provides partial support for the TPB. While the impact of entrepreneurial attitudes and PBC is significant, subjective norms has insignificant impact on EIs.
Research limitations/implications
Several recommendations are proposed from the results of this study for policymakers, universities and other educational institutes to encourage student’s entrepreneurship motivation and intention and reducing the negative effect of risk perceptions. Implications for future research are also presented.
Originality/value
This study integrated three main streams of research which are psychology of risk (entrepreneurial risk perception), the TPB and social context (social valuation of entrepreneurship) to examine the formation of students entrepreneurial motivations and intentions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Project No. GRANT506].
Citation
Alshagawi, M. and Ghaleb, M.M. (2023), "Entrepreneurial intentions of university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", International Journal of Innovation Science, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 581-597. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-05-2021-0083
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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