Determinants of Technopreneurial Intention Among University Students: Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) as Mediator

Abstract

Technology-based entrepreneurship or technopreneur-ship is crucial in driving business innovations in a country, especially in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era. To date, the Malaysian government has put forth various efforts and implemented many strategies to develop youth technopreneurs. However, the establishment of new technological businesses still needed to be higher. In addition, reluctance to embark on entrepreneurship among university students remained a main issue and challenge. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of technopreneurial intention among university students. The mediating role of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) was also tested. This study employed the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the concept of IEO as the underpinning theories in developing the model of research and hypotheses. The research method adopted was quantitative because all variables were quantifiable. In particular, it utilised a survey questionnaire. The object of the research was individual university students chosen from a public university in Malaysia. A total of 5030 students was identified as the population of the study. Based on the proportionate stratified random sampling, 358 students were selected as a sample and surveyed. The collected data were further analysed using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM). The findings empirically confirmed that contextual elements significantly and positively influenced technopreneurs’ intentions. However, computer and Internet self-efficacy were not significant in influencing technoprenuerial intention. IEO significantly mediated the relationship between contextual elements and technopreneurs’ intention regarding mediation testing. This research proved that aspects of contextual elements such as access to capital, access to information, and social networks were important in encouraging and developing technopreneurs. Furthermore, it confirmed a model for understanding and bolstering technopreneurial intention. It helped the government find significant external factors influencing students’ technopreneurial intention. It also sheds light on establishing effective ways of developing technopreneur-ship among youths early.