IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p11890-d920846.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Developing Entrepreneurial Sustainability among Saudi Arabia’s University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Nadia Abdelhamid Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed

    (Department of Management, Collage of Business, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The role of entrepreneurship has transformed to include issues beyond economic growth. This has twisted attention toward the drivers of entrepreneurial intentions across entrepreneurship types, particularly in sustainable entrepreneurship. Sustainable entrepreneurship is essential and a protagonist tool in protecting the environment, economy and society. This ensures employment opportunities, solves environmental problems and facilitates social and economic development. Keeping into consideration, the present study attempts to investigate sustainable entrepreneurial intention through Attitudes toward Sustainability (ATS), Perceived Desirability (PED), Perceived Feasibility (PEF) and Opportunity Recognition (OR) among Saudi Arabia’s university students. We employed the quantitative approach and used a survey questionnaire to obtain the responses from the respondents. We targeted the students of different public sector universities in Saudi Arabia using a random sampling technique. Finally, we utilized 292 valid samples to infer the results. Utilizing the Structural Equation Model (SEM) through analysis of moment structures (AMOS), we found a positive and significant effect of Attitudes towards Sustainability (ATS), Perceived Desirability (PED) and Perceived Feasibility (PEF) on Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions (SEI) and Opportunity Recognition (OR). This study provides valuable insights into the entrepreneurship domain and offers guidelines for policymakers and planners in shaping the policies that promote entrepreneurial sustainability and employment in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the OR factor also significantly and positively affects SEI. Finally, the study’s findings would contribute to the literature review by adding another empirical confirmation from Saudi Arabian students’ viewpoint.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadia Abdelhamid Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed, 2022. "Developing Entrepreneurial Sustainability among Saudi Arabia’s University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11890-:d:920846
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11890/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11890/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Teemu Kautonen & Marco van Gelderen & Erno T. Tornikoski, 2013. "Predicting entrepreneurial behaviour: a test of the theory of planned behaviour," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(6), pages 697-707, February.
    2. Ali Saleh Alshebami, 2022. "Psychological Features and Entrepreneurial Intention among Saudi Small Entrepreneurs during Adverse Times," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & Ricardo Martínez-Cañas, 2021. "From opportunity recognition to the start-up phase: the moderating role of family and friends-based entrepreneurial social networks," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1159-1182, September.
    4. Asante, Eric Adom & Affum-Osei, Emmanuel, 2019. "Entrepreneurship as a career choice: The impact of locus of control on aspiring entrepreneurs' opportunity recognition," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 227-235.
    5. Mohammad Naushad, 2018. "A study on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions among Saudi students," Post-Print hal-01774031, HAL.
    6. Norris Krueger, 1993. "The Impact of Prior Entrepreneurial Exposure on Perceptions of New Venture Feasibility and Desirability," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 18(1), pages 5-21, October.
    7. Nicole E. Peterman & Jessica Kennedy, 2003. "Enterprise Education: Influencing Students’ Perceptions of Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 28(2), pages 129-144, March.
    8. Olawale Fatoki, 2019. "Sustainability orientation and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions of university students in South Africa," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(2), pages 990-999, December.
    9. 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.
    10. Olawale Fatoki, 2019. "Determinants of Social Entrepreneurial Intentions of University Students in South Africa," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(6), pages 72-80.
    11. Shehnaz Tehseen & Syed Arslan Haider, 2021. "Impact of Universities’ Partnerships on Students’ Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intentions: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    12. Sarstedt, Marko & Hair, Joseph F. & Ringle, Christian M. & Thiele, Kai O. & Gudergan, Siegfried P., 2016. "Estimation issues with PLS and CBSEM: Where the bias lies!," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 3998-4010.
    13. Dash, Ganesh & Paul, Justin, 2021. "CB-SEM vs PLS-SEM methods for research in social sciences and technology forecasting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    14. Zahra, Shaker A. & Gedajlovic, Eric & Neubaum, Donald O. & Shulman, Joel M., 2009. "A typology of social entrepreneurs: Motives, search processes and ethical challenges," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 519-532, September.
    15. T. Ramayah & Syed Abidur Rahman & Seyedeh Khadijeh Taghizadeh, 2019. "Modelling green entrepreneurial intention among university students using the entrepreneurial event and cultural values theory," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(4), pages 394-412.
    16. Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed & Bahadur Ali Soomro & Naimatullah Shah, 2022. "The Role of Environment, Business and Human Behavior towards Entrepreneurial Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, February.
    17. Alain Fayolle & Francisco Linan & Juan A. Moriano, 2014. "Beyond entrepreneurial intentions : values and motivations in entrepreneurship," Post-Print hal-02313137, HAL.
    18. Han, Wei & Luo, Yong (Eddie) & Huang, Qihai & Yang, Jun, 2022. "The role of opportunity feasibility beliefs and bribery on resource acquisition speed and new venture emergence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 518-527.
    19. Kishinchand Poornima Wasdani & Mary Mathew, 2014. "Potential for opportunity recognition: differentiating entrepreneurs," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 23(3), pages 336-362.
    20. KruegerJR, Norris F. & Reilly, Michael D. & Carsrud, Alan L., 2000. "Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 15(5-6), pages 411-432.
    21. Jahangir Yadollahi Farsi & Abolghasem Arabiun & Mahmood Moradi, 2012. "The Impact of Opportunity Recognition Skills Training On Entrepreneurial Intention of Female Nursing Students," Journal of Knowledge Management, Economics and Information Technology, ScientificPapers.org, vol. 2(4), pages 1-6, August.
    22. Song, Geunhye & Min, Sujin & Lee, Seungmin & Seo, Yongseok, 2017. "The effects of network reliance on opportunity recognition: A moderated mediation model of knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurial orientation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 98-107.
    23. Katharina Fellnhofer & Susan Mueller, 2018. "“I Want to Be Like You!”: The Influence of Role Models on Entrepreneurial Intention," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 26(02), pages 113-153, June.
    24. Fitzsimmons, Jason R. & Douglas, Evan J., 2011. "Interaction between feasibility and desirability in the formation of entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 431-440, July.
    25. Stefan Schaltegger & Marcus Wagner, 2011. "Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation: categories and interactions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(4), pages 222-237, May.
    26. Mohammad Naushad, 2018. "A study on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions among Saudi students," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 5(3), pages 600-617, March.
    27. Nurdan Ozaralli & Nancy K. Rivenburgh, 2016. "Entrepreneurial intention: antecedents to entrepreneurial behavior in the U.S.A. and Turkey," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 6(1), pages 1-32, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Renata Dana Nițu-Antonie & Emőke-Szidónia Feder & Vladimir Nițu-Antonie & Róbert-Károly György, 2023. "Predicting Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions among Romanian Students: A Mediated and Moderated Application of the Entrepreneurial Event Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Brunella Arru, 2020. "An integrative model for understanding the sustainable entrepreneurs’ behavioural intentions: an empirical study of the Italian context," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3519-3576, April.
    3. Sanawi M. Sharahiley, 2020. "Examining Entrepreneurial Intention of the Saudi Arabia’s University Students: Analyzing Alternative Integrated Research Model of TPB and EEM," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(1), pages 67-84, March.
    4. Renata Dana Nițu-Antonie & Emőke-Szidónia Feder & Kristina Stamenovic & Adrian Brudan, 2022. "A Moderated Serial–Parallel Mediation Model of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention of Youth with Higher Education Studies in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Hina Munir & Cai Jianfeng & Wang Miao & Sidra Ramzan, 2019. "Human Capital and Theory of Planned Behavior: Unraveling Entrepreneurial Intentions of IT Students in Pakistan," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, Macrothink Institute, Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, December.
    6. Ying-Kai Liao & Vu Huu Anh Nguyen & Andrea Caputo, 2022. "Unveiling the role of entrepreneurial knowledge and cognition as antecedents of entrepreneurial intention: a meta-analytic study," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1623-1652, December.
    7. Fayolle, Alain & Liñán, Francisco, 2014. "The future of research on entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 663-666.
    8. Ben Youssef, Adel & Boubaker, Sabri & Dedaj, But & Carabregu-Vokshi, Mjellma, 2021. "Digitalization of the economy and entrepreneurship intention," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    9. Shirokova, Galina & Osiyevskyy, Oleksiy & Bogatyreva, Karina, 2016. "Exploring the intention–behavior link in student entrepreneurship: Moderating effects of individual and environmental characteristics," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 386-399.
    10. Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed & Bettina Lynda Bastian & Bronwyn P. Wood, 2022. "Women, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability: The Case of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Jingjing Wu & Ildikó Rudnák, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of Studying abroad in Hungary on Entrepreneurial Intention among International Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Najmul Hoda & Naim Ahmad & Shankar Lal Gupta & Mohammad Mahtab Alam & Irfan Ahmad, 2021. "Application of Entrepreneurial Intention Model in Comparative International Entrepreneurship Research: A Cross-Cultural Study of India and Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-23, December.
    13. Ali Saleh Alshebami, 2022. "Psychological Features and Entrepreneurial Intention among Saudi Small Entrepreneurs during Adverse Times," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    14. Shehnaz Tehseen & Syed Arslan Haider, 2021. "Impact of Universities’ Partnerships on Students’ Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intentions: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    15. Elina Kallas, 2019. "Environment-Readiness Entrepreneurship Intention Model: The Case of Estonians and the Russian-Speaking Minority in Estonia," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440188, January.
    16. José Alberto Martínez-González & Urszula Kobylinska & Francisco J. García-Rodríguez & Lukasz Nazarko, 2019. "Antecedents of Entrepreneurial Intention among Young People: Model and Regional Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-29, December.
    17. Jean-Pierre Boissin & Véronique Favre-Bonté & Sandrine Fine Falcy, 2017. "Diverse impacts of the determinants of entrepreneurial intention: three submodels, three student profiles," Post-Print hal-01700675, HAL.
    18. Gaofeng Yi, 2021. "From green entrepreneurial intentions to green entrepreneurial behaviors: the role of university entrepreneurial support and external institutional support," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 963-979, June.
    19. Gina Santos & Carla Susana Marques & João Ferreira, 2021. "The Influence of Embeddedness on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy: A Gender Perspective in the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-29, August.
    20. Ibrahim Al-Jubari & Arif Hassan & Francisco Liñán, 2019. "Entrepreneurial intention among University students in Malaysia: integrating self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1323-1342, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11890-:d:920846. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.