Exploring the impact of university support on students’ entrepreneurial intentions: evidence from Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Whether university support is meaningful in increasing students’ entrepreneurial intentions (EI) remains largely under-investigated, especially in the context of Central Asian countries. In this study, we attempted to address this question by examining the effects of university support (comprised of educational support, concept development support, and business development support) on students’ EI. We employed a structured questionnaire to collect data from 793 student respondents enrolled in 13 universities in Kyrgyzstan and performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Our analyses indicated that participants’ perceptions of EI and university support differed significantly according to their demographic backgrounds. Only educational support had a significant positive influence on EI. Moreover, our results indicated segmental differences in students’ perceptions of university support. We argue that universities in Kyrgyzstan should re-evaluate the entrepreneurial support they provide to students, consider their segmental differences, and engage them in more efficient activities. Additionally, we urge policymakers to emphasise the establishment of an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem within the university setting.