Establishing the Moderating Effect of Social Norms on the Relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intent of Graduating University Students in Western Uganda

Abstract

This study established the moderating effect of social norms on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intent of graduating university students in Western Uganda. The study adopted cross-sectional and causal-comparative research designs on a sample of 435 graduating students in Western Uganda. Descriptive results revealed that students entrepreneurial intent (x̅ = 3.03) was good and entrepreneurial education (mean = 2.96) was also good 0n the other hand, social norms (mean = 2.34) were poor. Inferential results revealed that social norms had a direct positive significant relationship with entrepreneurial intent (β = 0.219, p = 0.000 < 0.05) and a positive and significant moderating effect (β = 0.630, p = 0.000 < 0.05) on entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intent. Therefore, it was concluded that appropriate social norms enhance development of entrepreneurial intent in students especially when students are also accessing entrepreneurship education in institutions of learning. It was thus recommended that management of universities such as directorates of student welfare should put in place environments that promote students that build appropriate social norms.