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Impact of Entrepreneurial Inspiration, Awareness, and Skills on University Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Education

Author

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  • Ghulam Mujtaba

    (Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia)

  • Siti Nur ‘Atikah Zulkiffli

    (Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia)

  • Siti Falindah Padlee

    (Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia)

  • Wan Norhayati Mohamed

    (Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia)

  • Najahul Kamilah Aminy Sukri

    (Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia)

Abstract

In the pursuit of development and evaluation, entrepreneurship is the key to unlocking the shackles of poverty and unemployment. However, Pakistani students often catch themselves lacking the catalyst that ignites the entrepreneurial flame due to the absence of the essential knowledge, skills, and creative mindset, which can lead to significant challenges and a dim attitude toward entrepreneurial intentions. The harsh reality is that the rate of new business formation in Pakistan is only 1.5%. Therefore, the study aims to shed light on the impact of entrepreneurial inspiration, entrepreneurial skills, and entrepreneurial awareness on the intentions of Pakistani university students with the mediating effects of entrepreneurial education. Revealing the importance of entrepreneurial education in shaping the minds and desires of the students, seven hypotheses were developed based on social cognitive theory (SCT). A comprehensive survey was used to collect primary data from final-year business students, with a sample size of 865, from seven universities in the Punjab region of Pakistan that provide higher education in entrepreneurship and the data were analyzed in two stages, namely a model measurement and structural model Via Smart PLS 4. The findings clearly augment entrepreneurial inspiration, entrepreneurial skills, and entrepreneurial awareness, which can ignite the flames of entrepreneurship among Pakistani students. Moreover, entrepreneurial education plays a crucial role in mediating relationships and motivating students to choose entrepreneurship as a future occupation. However, the study is restricted to the Punjab region of Pakistan and focuses solely on final-year business students. This study serves as a guiding light of hope for academics, policymakers, and educational institutions to emphasize the need to revamp the business education landscape in Pakistan to foster entrepreneurial passion among our future leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghulam Mujtaba & Siti Nur ‘Atikah Zulkiffli & Siti Falindah Padlee & Wan Norhayati Mohamed & Najahul Kamilah Aminy Sukri, 2025. "Impact of Entrepreneurial Inspiration, Awareness, and Skills on University Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Education," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:1:p:15-:d:1559224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huatao Peng & Bingbing Li & Chen Zhou & Bert M. Sadowski, 2021. "How Does the Appeal of Environmental Values Influence Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Alessandro Biraglia & Vita Kadile, 2017. "The Role of Entrepreneurial Passion and Creativity in Developing Entrepreneurial Intentions: Insights from American Homebrewers," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(1), pages 170-188, January.
    3. Norman Rudhumbu & Douglas Svotwa & Takaruza Munyanyiwa & Morgen Mutsau, 2016. "Attitudes of Students towards Entrepreneurship Education at Two Selected Higher Education Institutions in Botswana: A Critical Analysis and Reflection," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 5, July.
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    1. Luis Edgardo Cruz Salinas & Marco Agustín Arbulú Ballesteros & Marilú Trinidad Flores Lezama & Hugo Daniel García Juárez & Mabel Ysabel Otiniano León & Velia Graciela Vera Calmet, 2025. "Determinants of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention: A Multigroup Analysis Between Public and Private Universities in Industrial Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, March.

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