Higher Entrepreneurial Intention Research Articles

Neural mechanisms underlying competition-induced optimal decisions in individuals with high entrepreneurial intention

In a rapidly changing and uncertain business environment, individuals with high entrepreneurial intention (HEI) inevitably need to compete or cooperate with others to maximize their gains. However, the effects of competition and cooperation on the risky decision-making and neural mechanisms of individuals with HEI are not clear. By combining the modified Devil Task and electroencephalogram (EEG) technology, the current study showed that a competition context is more likely to motivate optimal decisions and enhance the total decision gains for individuals with HEI than a cooperation context. A positive relationship between the frequency of optimal decisions and the total gains of decision-making for individuals with HEI was also found, and this relationship was mediated by the degree of entrepreneurial intention. The EEG results showed that individuals with HEI made decisions in the competition context with greater P2 amplitude of frontal regions than in the cooperation context, and source localization analyses revealed that this difference in brain activity was manifested in the medial prefrontal cortex. Finally, the results revealed a positive relationship between the P2 amplitude and the degree of entrepreneurial intention of individuals with HEI. Overall, the study suggests that competition is an effective way to motivate individuals with HEI to make optimal decisions and, thus, maximize their profits, providing new perspectives on ways to promote successful entrepreneurship.

Correlation between Entrepreneurship Education and Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Case of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

A study was undertaken at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to establish the relationship between receiving entrepreneurship education at university level and studentteachers’ intention to be involved in entrepreneurial work. Its main objective was to find statistically a significant correlation coefficient between the variables of the study. Literature had shown that there were empirical disagreements regarding the direction and strength of a correlation between the variables in question. The study employed correlation research methodology. The target population was Bachelor of Education in Commerce and Bachelor of Education in Adult and Community Education student-teachers at the School of Education. The results have shown that there is no statistically significant relationship between university entrepreneurial education and the entrepreneurial intentions of student-teachers at the University of Dar es Salaam. The null hypothesis was accepted because the point biserial correlation = 0.071, p-value (0.681) was greater than the study’s alpha value (0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between university entrepreneurship education and having high entrepreneurial intentions among student-teachers at the School of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani campus. This was because rpb (0.071) was not significantly different from zero at 34 degrees of freedom, 0.05 level of significance because it was below +.3494. The study’s consequence is that these findings justify further investigation of the study’s foci in order to arrive at a conclusive irrefutable viewpoint. It appears that additional investigation is warranted.

Gender and sex in starting up: a social stereotype approach

ABSTRACT This article analyses the influence of gender stereotypes in entrepreneurship by jointly studying the effect of gender-role orientation (GRO) and sex (women vs. men) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) and actions of individuals. Entrepreneurship is associated with the typical male stereotype in most societies, leading to a lower rate of women entrepreneurs. Our model builds on social role theory (SRT) to identify how descriptive and prescriptive gender stereotypes exert this influence. It integrates SRT and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to analyse the differential effect of sex and GRO on entrepreneurial motivations, intentions, and new venture creation behaviours. We test our model on a sample of highly educated adults in Spain using a longitudinal research design. Our results indicate that descriptive gender stereotypes influence individuals’ entrepreneurial motivations and intentions depending on their GRO. Androgynous people (women and men alike) exhibit the most favourable perceptions regarding entrepreneurship, and, through them, a higher EI (compared to masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated GRO individuals). In turn, prescriptive gender stereotypes affect individuals’ actual venture creation depending on their biological sex. Men are significantly more likely to act on their EIs and launch their venture than are women.

How Far Do Malaysian University Students Intend to be The Entrepreneur? A Structural Equation Modelling

The goal of this study is to investigate the level of entrepreneurial intention and the factors in fostering students’ entrepreneurial intentions by looking at the elements of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and entrepreneurial knowledge. Data has been collected from students enrolled in Malaysian universities. The responses were obtained from 200 respondents selected through the convenience sampling technique. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique was utilised to measure the model using Smart PLS software. The respondents were asked to indicate their perception level on a 5-point Likert Scale, ranging from Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5). This study found a significant positive relationship between attitude, subjective norms, and entrepreneurial knowledge towards entrepreneurial intentions. The respondents consider entrepreneurship to be a highly desirable career alternative for people with their education. However, perceived behavioural control does not significantly influence entrepreneurial intentions. Remarkably, most Malaysian university students have a high level of entrepreneurial intention to start up their businesses after completing their studies. The findings of this study prove direct implications for entrepreneurship educators regarding the profile of students who likely have higher entrepreneurial intentions on stimulating start-up business activities for students.

Entrepreneurship: Nature, nurture, or both? Empirical evidence from a moderated polynomial regression with response surface analysis

An unexplored question arising in entrepreneurship literature is whether entrepreneurs are born or made. This research therefore aims to addressing this question by investigating how entrepreneurial orientation (personal traits: innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking) and entrepreneurial education interact with each other to affect master students’ entrepreneurial intention. Based on the valid sample of 1890 master students in Vietnam, we methodologically used an advance technique - the moderated polynomial regression with response surface analysis-to yield that entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial education are not only positively associated with start-up intention separately, but these predictors also interact with each other to significantly affect entrepreneurial intention. This study sheds light on how the higher entrepreneurial intention is synthesized from the congruence between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial education. Conversely, the larger incongruence between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial education can lead to the lower level of entrepreneurial intention. In addition to these theoretical contributions, the results also suggested that personal traits, such as innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking, should be nurtured through entrepreneurial courses, which is not only equip students with essential entrepreneurial knowledges, skills, and capacities, but also enforce their entrepreneurial activities. Moreover, entrepreneurial education and training should be more inclined into practical perspectives.

The Effect of Entrepreneurial Education, Mindset, and Creativity on Entrepreneurial Intention of University Students: Assisted in the Mediation Role of Entrepreneurial Self Efficacy

The growth in the number of young students in Indonesia is increasing rapidly every day, making many innovative ideas emerge that are being implemented by many young people to become an attractive business. This phenomenon can be seen from various perspectives and factors that make students have high entrepreneurial intentions, namely in terms of education, mindset, creativity, and student self-confidence, which are combined to create interesting and innovative business ideas. Therefore, researchers want to conduct research on some of these factors to determine the influence of existing variables. Researchers used quantitative methods by distributing questionnaires to 133 respondents who had received education about entrepreneurship or business. Processing the data in this study using the media assisted by the SmartPLS 3 software. The results of this study show that the four factors mentioned above have a linkage and influence on the entrepreneurial intentions of respondents

ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL PASSION IN LINKING ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS

This study aims to explore the influence of entrepreneurial passion in linking entrepreneurial education and intentions in the higher education institutions (HEIs) as entrepreneurial passion is positive intense spirits that entrepreneurs experience toward their work to ensure creativity and innovation. Literature revealed that entrepreneurial education plays a crucial role in promoting entrepreneurial intentions in HEIs among the students. Still, the link between entrepreneurial intentions and education is stronger for students who have higher entrepreneurial passions. Present study used mixed-method approach by obtaining data from surveys in HEIs. The results indicated that students who have higher entrepreneurial passions are more possible to have higher entrepreneurial intentions. Students who have taken more entrepreneurial courses report higher levels of entrepreneurial intentions, suggesting that entrepreneurial education play crucial role in promoting entrepreneurial intentions among students. The HEIs should, design courses and programs that promote entrepreneurial passion, by providing theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This may help to create a culture of entrepreneurship in HEIs but also help to promote the development of successful entrepreneurs in the future.

Facilitators of tertiary students' entrepreneurial intentions: Insights for Lesotho's national entrepreneurship policy

This study provides insightful information to guide the Lesotho government's drive to address rising youth unemployment. Through quota sampling technique, this study selected 930 students from 31 departments at National University of Lesotho. Grounded in the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the study examined the facilitators of students' entrepreneurial intentions using mean, standard deviation, mean rank, correlation, and Mann-Whitney U test. Structural equation modelling was used to determine the relationship between the three components of TPB (attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norm), and students' entrepreneurial intention. The findings show that attitudes and perceived behavioural control were positive predictors of entrepreneurial intention while subjective norm was a negative predictor. The major findings indicate that students from Business and Management Development, Business Administration, Economics, Nutrition, and Pharmacy departments had higher entrepreneurial intentions, with postgraduate students (at master level) having higher entrepreneurial decisions than undergraduate students. Policy, practice, and research implications are teased out from the findings to improve entrepreneurial education.

Entrepreneurial intention in adolescents: The impact of psychological capital

Entrepreneurial intention (EI) of adolescents provides an early window on the entrepreneurial process when young people are forming their occupational identity. Using a neo-configurational perspective, we illuminate the complex causality of EI in a large sample of adolescents and reveal individual differences based on combinations of their psychological capital (PsyCap), gender, academic performance, parent entrepreneurs, and urban environment that culminate in the intention to become an entrepreneur. The empirical evidence provided here reveals synergy, substitution, and suppression effects among the causal conditions indicating multiple pathways to explain both high EI and low EI (indicative of employment intention) which are not the simple inverse of each other. We conduct both deductive hypothesis testing and abductive theory development based on the inductive results, such that this paper contributes to the literature on occupational choices made by adolescents, with implications for educational policy and further research.

Business Intentions of Australian Veterinary Students—My Business or Yours? A Cluster Analysis

Little is known about veterinary entrepreneurial predisposition. Yet entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship (entrepreneurial behaviour of employees) foster business innovation and growth and support wealth creation and employment in both privately and corporately owned businesses which deliver contemporary veterinary services. We used responses from 515 final-year students in Australian entrepreneurship, nursing, and veterinary programs to capture entrepreneurial intention (EI), outcome expectations (OE-sb), entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE), and corporate/large organisation work intentions (CWIs). Veterinary respondents stood out for their high EI and high OE-sb, but low financial ESE and low CWI. Proportions of veterinary, entrepreneurship, and nursing respondents differed markedly across distinct cluster profiles representing entrepreneurial, intrapreneurial, both entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial, indifferent, and corporate employment intentions and attributes. Post hoc analysis revealed proportional cluster membership differences for respondents from different veterinary schools. Our findings raise questions regarding (1) the effectiveness of veterinary business curricula competencies which focus on expense management and (2) the implications of the mismatch of motivations and goals of new veterinary sector entrants whose low intent to work in a corporate environment is at odds with increasing corporate ownership of veterinary practices. To inform curricular change, we recommend further research to evaluate the relative impact of individual factors, admissions factors, and the formal or hidden curricula on entrepreneurial intention in veterinary final-year students.

Sports University Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions: Findings from Kosovo

This paper aims to understand the impact of perceived behavioural control (PBC), personal attitude (PA), and subjective norms (SN) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) of undergraduate sport science students in Kosovo. We use a sample of 238 respondents, sports students of the University of Prishtina, using The EI questionnaire by Linan and Chen (2009), and implemented by authors during 2020. Drawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and using structural equation modelling, this study measures the impact of PBC, PA, perceived SN on EI of sport science students. Control variables are also included in this model, such as necessity-driven motives for business and need for financial support for start-ups and other socio-demographic variables such as age and gender. Findings show that PBC and PA have a positive and statistically significant effect on EI while SN is not significant. Necessity-driven motives have a positive impact on EI suggesting an unemployment push effect on EI; females and older students have a higher EI. The study concludes with practical and policy implications to identify and support students and graduates entering the entrepreneurship career.

Embedding the marketing angle into the pursuit of entrepreneurial propensity: roles of perceived feasibility and desirability and stakeholders' support

PurposeThis study endeavors to decode the propensity for entrepreneurial action by addressing the perceptions of feasibility and desirability stemming from entrepreneurs' and non-entrepreneurs’ appraisal of holding marketing capabilities; complemented by the direct and indirect effects of market stakeholders' support, assessed as bridging or buffering the entrepreneurial action.Design/methodology/approachThree groups were formed from a random sample of 1,957 Canadian (from Quebec) respondents to an online questionnaire: non-entrepreneurs with low entrepreneurial intentions, non-entrepreneurs with high entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurs with high entrepreneurial intentions.FindingsThe analyses revealed salient effects of perceptions of feasibility and desirability, coupled with appraisals of possessing marketing capabilities, on entrepreneurial propensity; and their strengthened relations when obtaining stakeholders' support. Overall, the results suggest that perceived market feasibility and market desirability are prominent factors in differentiating between entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial action, and the type and function of stakeholders' support are prominent in differentiating between intentions.Practical implicationsPractical implications include facilitating the transmission of marketing knowledge to novice entrepreneurs through higher education and the ecosystem.Originality/valueThe authors show that perceptions of feasibility and desirability are particularly dependent on the entrepreneur's perceived marketing capabilities and perceptions of entrepreneurial ecosystem supportiveness. This study thus captures a fuller range of the intentions–action relationship by gauging the unidimensional approach to entrepreneurial action through intertwining attributes at the individual and market levels. It takes a new look at feasibility and desirability through marketing capabilities; and offers a more robust classification of stakeholders' support—institution/people, bridging/buffering. Practical implications include facilitating the transmission of marketing knowledge to novice entrepreneurs through higher education and the ecosystem.

Entrepreneurial Attitudes, Intentions and Motivations among University Students in the National Capital Region


 
 
 Utilizing the descriptive-comparative and descriptive-correlational research designs, the researcher employed a questionnaire as the principal tool in gathering data from 518 college students enrolled in the business program of the different universities in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the school year 2014-2015 through a convenience sampling.
 The findings of the study revealed that majority of the university college students belonged to the 20 years old group, were females, born in the middle sibling order, had parents who reached college, and had an average monthly income ranging from P30,000 and above, and whose families were self-employed, and had previous entrepreneurial family experience.
 The study indicated that the respondents had a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship. The respondents were found to have high entrepreneurial intentions. For the push factors that motivate respondents to become
 
 
 
 
 
 
 entrepreneurs, the respondents were much affected by the different push factors, while the pull factors were not very important to them. .
 The study also found that the exogenous factors hindering the respondents’ intention of becoming entrepreneurs will be serious problem to the respondents if they enter the world of entrepreneurship and these will bother them a lot especially upon starting a business, and so do the endogenous factors.
 Furthermore, the study found the following: a) that there was a significant difference between gender and entrepreneurial attitudes as manifested by the p- value of 0.000 which is less than 0.05 or 5%; b)that there was a significant relationship between the entrepreneurial attitudes and intention of the respondents as manifested by the p-value which is -0.169 and verbally interpreted as very low correlation and with the p-value = 0.000 which is less than 0.05 or 5%, thus, led the researcher to reject the null hypothesis (Ho); c) that there was no significant relationship between entrepreneurial intentions and motivational factors as manifested by the p-value of 0.505 and 0.611 which were higher than 0.05 or 5 percent; d) that in terms of pull factors, the entrepreneurial intentions do not affect the motivational factors or the other way around; e) that the push factors or the motivational factors do not affect the entrepreneurial intentions of the respondents. This means that even if how good are the entrepreneurial intentions, there is a possibility that motivational factors will not be good and vice versa; f) in terms of exogenous factors, the entrepreneurial intention and hindering factors do not significantly relate with one another as manifested by the r- value of 0.075 and also p-value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 of 0.870 which is greater than 0.05 or 5 percent; and g) when endogenous factors were considered, a significant relationship exists between the entrepreneurial intention and hindering factors.
 
 

Understanding the relevance of experiential learning for entrepreneurial self-efficacy: A gender-wise perspective

Experiential learning has been regarded as an effective tool for grasping entrepreneurial knowledge. The current study examines the influence of Experiential Learning (EL) with sub-variables [(i.e., Concrete Experience (CE), Reflective Observation (RO), Abstract Conceptualisation (AC), & Active Experimentation (AE)] on the Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) of the male and female Higher educational institution (HEI) students possessing high Entrepreneurial Intention. The study uses a Liñán and Chen (2009) tool to identify students with high Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI), selecting 323 (195 male and 128 female) respondents possessing 4–5 scores on a scale of 5. The survey considered three growing Indian regions: Punjab, Haryana, and NCR (National capital region). For EL, a self-structured questionnaire and for the ESE scale of Mcgee, Peterson, Mueller, and Sequeira (2009) was adopted. The results highlight that in the case of male and female students, all sub-variables of EL, i.e., CE, RO, AC & AE of EL, strongly predicted ESE. However, there is a difference in the degree of influence of such dimensions based on Gender. In the case of male degree of influence is maximum with RO followed by AE, CE, AC, but for females the sequence of degree of influence is different as RO is followed by CE, AC and AE. The findings can be helpful to design and support experiential learning system concerning entrepreneurship students of higher educational institutes.

Entrepreneurial Intentions on Accounting Education Students: The Implementation of Theory Planned Behavior

The purpose of this paper is to test the  entrepreneurial intentions of  accounting education students by making a comparative analysis among gender groups. A total of 218 Accounting education students throughout Indonesia,  completed  a list  of questions for entrepreneurial intentions. The questionnaire has four sections that extract information about  behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control  behaviors and entrepreneurial intentions. Responden was asked to dispute his choice with a statement on a five-point numerical type scale. The results identified that students who had undergone entrepreneurship education (accounting education study program) tended to have high entrepreneurial intentions. Attitudes towards perceived  control behaviors and behaviors  are the main predictors  of entrepreneurial intentions, while subjective norms, do not. This study did not find any significant differences in entrepreneurial intentions in terms of men and women.  The limitation of this study lies in the sample size and units of accounting education study program  that have attended entrepreneurship lectures  (universities) from which samples have been taken. Future research is recommended to predict students' entrepreneurial intentions by taking a larger sample by comparing them through business practice activities. This study strongly suggests the need to include educational entrepreneurship in the curriculum at universities in Indonesia. This research provides an assessment of  university entrepreneurship intentions that have a relationship with financial management, namely accounting and business through entrepreneurship practicum, therefore it further enriches the literature and helps toiversalkan the theory of intention.

Entrepreneurial intention and the three stages of entrepreneurial action: a process approach.

The relationship between entrepreneurial intention (EI) and entrepreneurial action (EA) is a popular topic in entrepreneurship research, owing to the contribution of these constructs in the process leading to the entrepreneurial activity taking place. There are still countries that are recording high entrepreneurial intention levels in comparison to their corresponding entrepreneurial action levels that are low. This is a global concern to which South Africa (SA) is also not immune. Most of the research tests the relationship between two single constructs: EI and EA. Our study follows a process approach and investigates the effect of this relationship between EI and the three stages of EA. A quantitative method was employed and a survey utilized whereby data was collected among 597 entrepreneurs in South Africa. The data was analyzed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The EI construct is supported through the Theory of Planned Behavior, in conjunction with the Motivation Opportunity Ability theory. The Discovery Theory, together with the Creative Theory, supports each of the stages of EA, namely: entrepreneurial opportunity discovery (EODI); entrepreneurial opportunity evaluation (EOEV); and entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation (EOEX). Previous research regarding the relationship between EI and EA measured this relationship from a binary point of view. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship field by employing the process approach to determine the impact of EI on the stages of EA. This study reveals that EI is statistically significant in all three stages of EA. However, the strength of this relationship is found to be strong between EI and the EODI and EOEV stages and moderate between EI and the EOEX stage. Therefore, this study reveals that effective training interventions and development are necessary between EI and the EOEX stage of EA.

When ‘Good Enough’ Is Not Enough: The Role of Maximizing or Satisficing Decision-Making Styles, Innovation Behavior, and Entrepreneurial Alertness in the Pursuit of New Business Opportunities

This paper investigates whether an individual’s tendency to maximize when making decisions influences their entrepreneurial intentions, innovation behavior, entrepreneurial alertness, and opportunity evaluation. It is predicted that maximizers will have greater entrepreneurial intentions. Underlying this process, it is predicted that maximizers will report greater innovation behavior and entrepreneurial alertness. Using data from a survey of 253 working professionals in the U.S., hypotheses are tested using multiple regression and mediation analysis. The results suggest that maximizers have higher entrepreneurial intentions, and that this relationship is mediated by their innovation behavior and entrepreneurial alertness. A second study is conducted with a survey of 192 students to explore how maximizers evaluate a specific entrepreneurial opportunity, and how their evaluation influences their entrepreneurial intentions. Using mediation analysis, findings of study 2 suggest that maximizers are more likely to see business opportunities as attractive, which increases their entrepreneurial intentions. The second study also replicates the main results of study 1 in a unique sample.

FAKTOR DEMOGRAFI YANG MEMPENGARUHI NIAT KEUSAHAWANAN DI KALANGAN PELAJAR ASNAF IPT

is very important and needs to be focused on to reduce the poverty rate in our country. Knowledge and exposure related to the field of entrepreneurship must be applied from the beginning of school education because it greatly helps the development of successful entrepreneurs among asnaf families. Many of the asnaf families send their children to study at Institutions of Higher Education (IPT) and have been given an education in the field of entrepreneurship. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the demographic factors that influence the entrepreneurial intention of asnaf students in the field of entrepreneurship through an online questionnaire. This study involved a total of 369 students in the asnaf category at Universiti Utara Malaysia. The study results show that these asnaf students have a high entrepreneurial intention with an average of 4.67 and a standard deviation of 1.46. This demonstrates that asnaf students have a significant favourable intention toward the entrepreneurship. Male students had stronger entrepreneurial intentions than female students. Diploma graduate students are more entrepreneurial intentions than STPM graduate students, who are followed by SPM graduate students. The survey also discovered that individuals with business experience, their own firm, and aim to be entrepreneurs after graduation have higher entrepreneurial intentions.

Entrepreneurship and Culture: What Determines the Differences Within Switzerland?

This article aims to investigate the differences in entrepreneurship activity and entrepreneurship-related perceptions and intentions within Switzerland and to shed light on the explanations of those differences through a cultural context. Two possible divisions within the country that complement each other are used: the administrative division into seven NUTS2 regions and the division into language regions (German, French and Italian). The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is used for entrepreneurship-related data and the European Social Survey for measuring societal values. The findings of this article show that higher perceptions about the possibilities to be successful in entrepreneurship or higher entrepreneurial intentions do not automatically lead to entrepreneurship. The analysis of societal values both across language regions and across NUTS2 regions in Switzerland shows that it is the pattern that matters, not the single values, and sometimes the combination of societal values and educational background determines entrepreneurship activity. Comparing the patterns and correlations across three language regions and across seven NUTS2 administrative regions in Switzerland shows that pronounced differences can be found across language regions. In a country with a high economic and human development level like Switzerland, most of the entrepreneurship is opportunity-driven and not necessity-driven.

Social support and risk-taking propensity as predictors of entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates in Nigeria

Purpose This paper aims to examine the determinants of entrepreneurial intention among students of a university in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on their risk-taking propensity, social support and demographic variables. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were collected from 350 undergraduates across seven faculties in Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, through a self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive and regression statistical analysis were used to estimate and test the relationship among entrepreneurial intention and social support, risk-taking propensity and demographic variables. Findings The results showed high entrepreneurial intention among the students. The push factors, such as perceived social support from families, risk-taking propensity and previous engagement in business, are key determinants of entrepreneurship intention among the students. The age and father’s occupation also showed a significant relationship with the level of entrepreneurial intention. Practical implications This result suggests that strengthening social support for entrepreneurship among students could enhance their desire to own a business during and after graduation. Improving entrepreneurship ecosystems in the university could further motivate those already practicing entrepreneurship while also stimulating intentions among others. For instance, provision of entrepreneurship infrastructure and incentives such as business incubators, innovation hubs, science parks and competitive business grants could enhance the risk-taking propensity among students and motivate them for venture creation. Originality/value Understanding the influence of social support and risk-taking propensity on entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates is important for policy and practice. The result further reinforces the need to promote entrepreneurship education to create a critical mass of potential entrepreneurs in the university.