IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ssi/jouesi/v12y2025i4p457-476.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Prominent education predictors of women's intention to entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Ayman N. Alkhaldi

    (University of Hail, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ibrahim Almarashdeh

    (Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ilyes Abidi

    (University of Hail, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ilyes Abidi

    (University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia)

  • Habiba Ameur

    (University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Algeria)

  • Samia Ahmed Samil

    (University of Hail, Saudi Arabia)

  • Fatma Mohamed Ismaalia

    (University of Hail, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

In an era where entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, understanding the role of education in shaping entrepreneurial intentions is crucial—especially for women. This study explores the multi-dimensional impact of education on female entrepreneurship by categorizing educational factors into three dimensions: educational background, education level, and entrepreneurial education. Grounded in education theories and the theory of planned behavior, we analyze a sample of potential women entrepreneurs. Surprisingly, our findings reveal that having a business-related educational background does not significantly affect entrepreneurial intentions. However, education level is decisive in shaping attitudes and subjective norms toward entrepreneurship, though it does not influence perceived behavioral control. Notably, women who have received entrepreneurial training demonstrate stronger attitudes and perceptions of control, highlighting the power of targeted education. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders to foster digital entrepreneurship among Saudi women, bridging the gap between education and economic empowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayman N. Alkhaldi & Ibrahim Almarashdeh & Ilyes Abidi & Ilyes Abidi & Habiba Ameur & Samia Ahmed Samil & Fatma Mohamed Ismaalia, 2025. "Prominent education predictors of women's intention to entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 12(4), pages 457-476, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssi:jouesi:v:12:y:2025:i:4:p:457-476
    DOI: 10.9770/w7574539237
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://jssidoi.org/jesi/uploads/articles/48/Alkhaldi_Prominent_education_predictors_of_womens_intention_to_entrepreneurship_in_Saudi_Arabia.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/1324
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.9770/w7574539237?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tugrul Daim & Marina Dabic & Elvan Bayraktaroglu, 2016. "Students’ entrepreneurial behavior: international and gender differences," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, 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. Minh Pham & Anh Tuyet Thi Nguyen & Duy Thien Tran & Tam Toai Mai & Vinh Trung Nguyen, 2023. "The impact of entrepreneurship knowledge on students' e-entrepreneurial intention formation and the moderating role of technological innovativeness," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-30, December.
    2. Ozen, Cagla & Owaishiz, Abdalilah & Dabic, Marina & Daim, Tugrul, 2023. "Exploring entrepreneurship in the academic environment," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Jasna Bogovac & Domagoj Dodig & Tereza Rogić Lugarić, 2021. "Public-Private Partnership and Circular Economy—What Croatian Students Learn at University," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Cuong Nguyen, 2017. "Entrepreneurial intention of international business students in Viet Nam: a survey of the country joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Jhon U. Blesia & Mesak Iek & Westim Ratang & Halomoan Hutajulu, 2021. "Developing an Entrepreneurship Model to Increase Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills: an Action Research Project in a Higher Education Institution in Indonesia," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 53-70, February.
    7. Isaac Kofi Biney, 2023. "Adult education and entrepreneurship: getting young adults involved," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    8. Sandeep Singh & Sarita Sood & Priyanka Sharma, 2023. "Nexus between entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial motivation, and entrepreneurial intention: a moderated mediation model," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Suheela Shabir & Jabir Ali, 2022. "Determinants of early‐stage entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Evidence from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Database," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(5), pages 1566-1578, July.
    10. Ozdemir, Dilek & Dabic, Marina & Daim, Tugrul, 2019. "Entrepreneurship education from a Croatian medical student's perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    11. Mojtaba Shahin & Olivia Ilic & Christabel Gonsalvez & Jon Whittle, 2021. "The impact of a STEM-based entrepreneurship program on the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female students," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1867-1898, December.
    12. Edomgenet Hiba Issa & Zerebruk Zewdu Tesfaye, 2020. "Entrepreneurial intent among prospective graduates of higher education institution: an exploratory investigation in Kafa, Sheka, and Bench-Maji Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    women empowerment; sustainable development; women entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; gender; entrepreneurship education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:ssi:jouesi:v:12:y:2025:i:4:p:457-476. 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: Manuela Tvaronaviciene (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.