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Factors Affecting Green Entrepreneurship Intentions in Business University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic Times: Case of Ecuador

Author

Listed:
  • Aldo Alvarez-Risco

    (Carrera de Negocios Internacionales Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Económicas, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru)

  • Sabina Mlodzianowska

    (Escuela de Posgrado, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru)

  • Verónica García-Ibarra

    (Carrera de Administración de Empresas, Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi, Tulcan 040102, Ecuador)

  • Marc A. Rosen

    (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Institute of Technology, University of Ontario, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada)

  • Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales

    (Escuela Nacional de Marina Mercante “Almirante Miguel Grau”, Callao 07021, Peru)

Abstract

This research assesses the influence of education development support, conceptual development support, and country support through entrepreneurial self-efficacy over green entrepreneurial intentions. A total of 532 business students in Ecuador participated in an online survey. Eight questions were focused on demographic information, and twenty-seven questions evaluated the green entrepreneurship intentions of students. An SEM-PLS technical analysis was used. The results showed that educational support for developing entrepreneurship (0.296), conceptual support for developing entrepreneurship (0.123), and country support for entrepreneurship (0.188) had a positive influence on entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and that entrepreneurial self-efficacy had a positive influence (0.855) on gren entrepreneurial intentions. The model explained 73.1% of the green entrepreneurial intentions. Outcomes of the bootstrapping test were used to evaluate if the path coefficients are significant. This study showed the impacts of education development support, conceptual development support, and country support on the entrepreneur’s ability to carry out green entrepreneurship were positive. This information can help universities develop strategic plans to achieve ecological ventures and ensure students have the necessary skills to do so on campus. The research findings also may be helpful for the governments in establishing new norms to promote entrepreneurship. The novelty is based on using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldo Alvarez-Risco & Sabina Mlodzianowska & Verónica García-Ibarra & Marc A. Rosen & Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales, 2021. "Factors Affecting Green Entrepreneurship Intentions in Business University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic Times: Case of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6447-:d:569720
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Sourav Mondal & Saumya Singh, 2025. "A bibliometric and thematic analysis of green entrepreneurship in business research: current status and future research directions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 67-139, January.
    5. Bahrawar Said & Muhammad Wajid Raza & Adamu Jibir & Jawad Hussain, 2026. "Entrepreneurial finance in the context of COVID-19 and post-pandemic challenges: a bibliometric and content analysis," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    6. Nimit Soonsan & Hiran Prasankarn & Piangjit Tanticharatwarodom & Jiraporn Prasankarn & Zulfiqar Ali Jumani, 2025. "University entrepreneurial support and green entrepreneurial behavior: a quantitative serial mediation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Yunlong Zhang & Asif Mehmood Rana & Hasnain Bashir & Ifraz Adeel & Shahid Khokhar & Jingyuan Ding, 2023. "Can University Students’ Psychological Resources Stimulate the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Optimism and Green Entrepreneurial Intentions? Moderating Role of Sustainability Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    8. Francis Lwesya & Eliza Mwakasangula, 2023. "A scientometric analysis of entrepreneurship research in the age of COVID-19 pandemic," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Walter Leal Filho & David Anthony Kirby & Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi & Ricardo L. F. Bella & Rosley Anholon & Osvaldo L. G. Quelhas, 2025. "Higher education and sustainable entrepreneurship: The state of the art and a look to the future," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 957-969, February.
    10. Hugo Necoechea-Mondragón & María de la Luz Pérez-Reveles, 2025. "“The need for entrepreneurship education in public universities: insights from student perspectives”," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
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