Entrepreneurial education program motivations in shaping engineering students’ entrepreneurial intention: The mediating effect of assimilation and accommodation

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to draw on Piaget’s theory of assimilation and accommodation (absorptive capacity) as having mediating roles to examine the effect of motivational factors in entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention among engineering students. In addition, this relationship is analyzed along with the moderating effect of the home environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural equation model was applied to a sample of university students (736 respondents) engaged in an entrepreneurship education program in South Korea.

Findings

The findings highlight that the motivations of personal achievement, social welfare and social relationship were associated with assimilated students, and the motivations of personal achievement and cognitive interest were associated with accommodated students fostering entrepreneurial intention in their entrepreneurship education.

Originality/value

This finding contributes to the theoretical implications of absorptive capacity (assimilation and accommodation) in the learning process and has wider practical implications for course instructors in educational institutions who wish to promote the effectiveness of developing entrepreneurship knowledge and skills among engineering students.

Citation

Kim, M. and Park, M.J. (2019), "Entrepreneurial education program motivations in shaping engineering students’ entrepreneurial intention: The mediating effect of assimilation and accommodation", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 328-350. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-08-2018-0082