On the Specifics of Entrepreneurship Perception by University Students

Abstract

On the base of the survey in two universities in Voronezh (680 students) the hypothesis is rejected that students, in accordance with J. Schumpeter's interpretation of entrepreneurial activity, associate entrepreneurship with innovations. It is found that the student's perception of entrepreneurship in the Russian cultural and linguistic environment differs from the Schumpeterian one. Although the inclination to joining entrepreneurship in the future is widespread among the students, they are not ready to innovate. Students perceive entrepreneurship primarily as a pathway to financial security and personal well-being. Respondents tend to neglect socially significant aspects of entrepreneurship.It is revealed that the students miss a holistic system of views and priorities regarding to their careers. Personal interests and motivations prevail over business inclinations. This is expressed in the students' career preferences, which incline to the ability to combine business and personal life, to the pursuit of financial security, material well-being, avoiding difficulties. As a rule, students prefer interesting and creative work. Hard work and education as factors of success in their future professional careers are valued low.At the same time, weak social inclinations are manifested. Mutual assistance and cooperation as factors of professional progress are rated low. Also, the students are not inclined to work much and hard for the sake of public benefits. Prevailing not only personal interests as compared to the social, but even personal as compared to professional is an obstacle to the students joining the innovative entrepreneurship, requiring the priority of business and professional interests. The low interest to continuing family business reflects the young people's desire to independence, to free choice of path. This indirectly indicates their deviation from traditional values (which are considered to be characteristic of the Russian culture in the past) and about the growth of their individualism.