Unveiling the link between digital entrepreneurship education and intention among university students in an emerging economy

Abstract

Digital Entrepreneurship (DE) is becoming increasingly relevant due to advancements in technology and infrastructure, which offer many opportunities for entrepreneurs. This research seeks to elucidate the influence of Digital Entrepreneurship Education (DEE) on the interrelations among Attitude (ATT), Subjective Norms (SNs), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), Personal Innovativeness (PI), and Digital Entrepreneurship Intention (DEI) among university students in emerging nations. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) serves as the theoretical foundation for this study. The study adopts a quantitative research design, utilizing a survey questionnaire to garner information from a subset of business college students in Vietnam. A total of 334 valid responses were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), facilitating the testing of the research hypotheses. The study revealed a positive correlation between TPB constructs, PI, and DEI among university students in developing economies. However, the relationship between PBC and DEI was inversely affected by DEE. Furthermore, the study found no evidence to support the moderating effects of DEE on the relationship between ATT, SNs, PI, and DEI. This research contributes significantly to entrepreneurship studies by investigating the impact of DEE on students' inclination to embark on DE in developing countries. It extends the theoretical framework of TPB by integrating PI and underscores the importance of DEE in fostering DE. Moreover, the findings of this study hold several implications for academic administrators, policymakers, and educators. These insights can be leveraged to devise strategies and initiatives to enhance support and advancement for DEE.