University entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intention: Research themes and gaps

This research consists of a thematic literature review, conducted to answer the following research questions: What is the empirical impact of university entrepreneurial education (EE) on the students’ entrepreneurial intention (EI)? What are the research gaps in the existing literature about the impact of EE on EI? What are the theoretical and practical implications of the findings from studies on this matter? The findings indicate four types of impacts of EE on EI in the literature: 1) a direct and positive impact of EE on EI, 2) EE has no impact on EI, 3) Indirect and positive impact of EE on EI through mediating variables, 4) a direct and positive impact of EE on EI moderated by other variables. Additionally, we identified four research avenues with potential to address the gaps in the literature, suggesting a prospective inquiry as an example of future research that includes students with low EI. Finally, we indicate practical and theoretical implications derived from the literature on the impact of EE on EI.