UNIVERSITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AS MECHANISM FOR STUDENTS’ ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF UNIVERSITY SUPPORT

Abstract

The inadequacy of student’s entrepreneurial support services as well as the
unenthusiastic attitudes of young graduates in prioritizing fixed salary jobs as
against self-employed one and their incapability in opportunity recognition has
compelled universities to focus more in providing effective university
entrepreneurship education support services that are pertinent in triggering
potential intentions of new venture creation and growth. This study investigated
how University Support (UPS) mediated a relationship between University
Entrepreneurship Education (UEE) and Entrepreneurial Intention (EIT). Using a
survey of 404 Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa students by employing
Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with PLS version 2, the result revealed that
university support facilitates understanding and easiness of entrepreneurship
education and entrepreneurial intention relationship. The analysis shows that
university support invigorates the role of entrepreneurship education in
enhancing entrepreneurial intention. The study, therefore, recommends that
universities, specifically the lecturers taking entrepreneurship courses should pay
more attention on students’ entrepreneurial mindset re-orientation. Universities
on the other hand, should intensify intervention through the engagement of role
models in training, encouragement of business plan competitions and provision of
entrepreneurial support network among students as well as linking students with
the innovative ideas to resources outside the university environment.