The determination of the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions of students in developing economies

Abstract

The object of the research is the relationship between entrepreneurship education and the entrepreneurial intention of students in developing economies. The paper aims at the provision of better understanding of premises for policy making in Higher Educational Institutions of developing economies towards enhancing the growth of entrepreneurship. Data was collected from the students of the multi-campus National Open University of Nigeria via an adapted structured questionnaire. The study utilized the non-parametric method of Structural Equation Modelling with the aid of PLS 3 software. The major finding of the study is the existence of a causal relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intention of the students of Higher Institutions in developing economies that is in line with several studies conducted in other developing economies. It further affirms the key role of entrepreneurship education in inspiring students’ inclination towards entrepreneurship. It recommends, amongst other things, that policymakers of Universities and other Tertiary institutions should provide, in an early stage, a modified mandatory entrepreneurial program structured to shape and develop student’s entrepreneurial Intentions.