A SEM-neural network approach for understanding the entrepreneurial competence development of freshmen engineering and computing students

Abstract

The discussion of enhancing entrepreneurial competence in Higher Education Institution (HEI), especially in engineering and computing major, has increased for the recent years. This study aims to propose and test a structural model of relationship of Indonesian HEI entrepreneurship education with entrepreneurship competence to assess student entrepreneurship competences especially in undergraduate level. Thus, this study provides the contribution in this stream by creating a subject specialized that fit with specific study program to enhance entrepreneurial competence for freshmen student called Integrative Survival Experience especially in engineering and computing major. We measure its output by using EntreComp questionnaires framework from European Commission. A combination of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and neural network was implemented as analytic approach in this study. The results show that the freshmen engineering and computing students develop entrepreneurial competence by enhancing the specific sets of ideas and opportunities as well as the capability to manage resources for taking the action afterwards. Apparently, the entrepreneurial competence development process of engineering and computing students differs with that of business and management students.