ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

Notwithstanding the concerted interventions for integrating entrepreneurship education in higher learning institutions, graduates' transition from universities to entrepreneurial activities remains insignificant. This paper examines the influence of entrepreneurial knowledge on the entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate students. An exploratory research design alongside a quantitative approach was used to collect data. The data for this paper were collected from 335 drawn from 10 public and private higher learning institutions. Purposive, stratified, and convenience sampling were used to draw the sample. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey administered to 335 finalist students in Tanzania's higher learning institutions. The paper applies a partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the moderating role of entrepreneurial knowledge on the relationship between motivational factors and entrepreneurial intentions of finalist undergraduate students from higher learning institutions in Tanzania. The study reveals that entrepreneurial knowledge significantly moderates the relationship between behavioural control and entrepreneurial intentions. The influence of entrepreneurial knowledge on the relationship between attitude and intentions and subjective norms and intentions is insignificant. Further, the attitude and behavioural controls were found to positively and significantly affect immediate entrepreneurial intentions, whereas subjective norms insignificantly affected immediate entrepreneurial intention. The study contributes to the development of a theory of planned behaviour, for example, by demonstrating that the three motivational factors have varying effects on entrepreneurial intentions in the context of moderation and different time horizons. Family entrepreneurial culture, personal savings, and role models are keys to making graduates pursue entrepreneurship in the long term.