Antecedents of digital entrepreneurial intention among engineering students

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the factors shape digital entrepreneurial intention based on the application of the Social Cognitive Career theory. A sample of 345 engineering students and the structural equation modeling method are used to provides a better understanding of the factors (attitude toward digital entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy, digital entrepreneurial knowledge, and digital entrepreneurial education) that motivate engineering students to engage in digital entrepreneurship. The results indicate that attitude toward digital entrepreneurship significantly and positively impacts the digital entrepreneurship intention. Additionally, digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a crucial role in fostering a positive attitude toward digital entrepreneurship. The study highlights the importance of digital entrepreneurial knowledge, which positively affects both self-efficacy and attitude toward digital entrepreneurship. The finding emphasizes the significance of digital entrepreneurial education in enhancing knowledge and digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The results are anticipated to offer both theoretical and practical insights into the factors encouraging digital entrepreneurial intentions.