An Investigation of Patterns of Entrepreneurial Competencies Among Undergraduates at a Malaysian Public University

Abstract

Entrepreneurial competences are related to the knowledge and skills needed to establish or manage a business that is profitable. However, research into the relationship between different types of entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial competencies has yielded varied results. This study investigates the various types of entrepreneurial competencies that students would have developed after taking the basic entrepreneurship course at the said university and compares them to students who did not take the basic entrepreneurship course. The study comprised 1049 undergraduates from different disciplines who took Basic Entrepreneurship class as well as individuals who did not take Basic Entrepreneurship. The Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PEC) assessment utilised had 13 competencies. The designed basic entrepreneurship enculturation course only positively predicted five of the 13 entrepreneurial competencies (i.e., persistence, systematic planning, initiative, see and act on opportunities, and use of influence strategies).