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The Role of Perceived University Support in the Formation of Students' Entrepreneurial Intention

Author

Listed:
  • Saadat Saeed
  • Shumaila Y. Yousafzai
  • Mirella Yani‐de‐soriano
  • Moreno Muffatto

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education is central to student entrepreneurship. Previous research has attempted to understand the role of entrepreneurship education in the formation of students' entrepreneurial intention and behavior, albeit in an isolated manner. Universities can support entrepreneurship in many ways, but it is important to measure students' perception of the support that they receive in order to understand the extent of such support and its impact on students. The current study proposed and tested an integrative, multiperspective framework. We have hypothesized that the three dimensions of university support, that is, perceived educational support, concept development support, and business development support, together with institutional support, shape students' entrepreneurial self‐efficacy. In turn, entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and individual motivations constitute the fundamental elements of the intention to start a business. A sample of 805 university students took part in the study and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our findings showed that perceived educational support exerted the highest influence on entrepreneurial self‐efficacy, followed by concept development support, business development support, and institutional support. Self‐efficacy in turn had a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. Individual motivations such as self‐realization, recognition, and role had an additional impact on intention. However, intention was not related to financial success, innovation, and independence. The findings suggest that a holistic perspective provides a more meaningful understanding of the role of perceived university support in the formation of students' entrepreneurial intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Saadat Saeed & Shumaila Y. Yousafzai & Mirella Yani‐de‐soriano & Moreno Muffatto, 2015. "The Role of Perceived University Support in the Formation of Students' Entrepreneurial Intention," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(4), pages 1127-1145, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ujbmxx:v:53:y:2015:i:4:p:1127-1145
    DOI: 10.1111/jsbm.12090
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carlos Bazan, 2022. "Effect of the University’s Environment and Support System on Subjective Social Norms as Precursor of the Entrepreneurial Intention of Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    2. Evelina Van Mensel & Nikolay A. Dentchev & Andrea Samaniego Diaz & Edgar Izquierdo & Zornitsa Yordanova, 2025. "The Role of Universities in Social Enterprises’ Ability to Scale: a Dynamic Capabilities Approach," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 184-204.
    3. Deepa Subhadrammal & Martin Bliemel & Alessandro Bressan & Helene Burgh-Woodman, 2023. "Extra-curricular support for entrepreneurship among engineering students: development of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intentions," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Anderson R. Galvão & Carla S. Marques & Telma Mendes & Carolina Azevedo, 2025. "How Does Perceived University Support Boost Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(3), pages 12698-12726, September.
    5. Carlos Bazan, 2023. "Factor Analysis of the University Environment and Support System: A Bayesian Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    6. repec:bcp:journl:v:4:y:2020:i:10:p:317-323 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Hina Munir & Miao Wang & Sidra Ramzan & Umar Farooq Sahibzada & Cai Jianfeng, 2021. "Disentangling the effect of personal abilities and socio-demographic variables on entrepreneurial intentions: implications for entrepreneurship pedagogy," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 53-69, December.
    8. Juan-José Nájera-Sánchez & Cristina Pérez-Pérez & Thais González-Torres, 2023. "Exploring the knowledge structure of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 563-597, June.
    9. Felix Adamu Nandonde & Charles Omollo Malaki, 2024. "What Support Can Higher Learning Institutions Provide to Motivate Students to Engagement in Self-Employment? Evidence from Tanzania," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 13(4), pages 428-436, August.
    10. Selma Ouni & Anis Jarboui, 2025. "The Link between Perceived Public Support and Entrepreneurial Intention Mediated by Entrepreneurial self-efficacy and Entrepreneurial Climate: Gender as a Moderator," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 1631-1654, September.
    11. Hongxia Chen & Jian‑Hao Huang, 2023. "The Relationship between Students’ Perception of University Entrepreneurial Support and Entrepreneurial Intentions: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(6), pages 1-78, December.
    12. Yang Yang & Laura Rienda & Rosario Andreu, 2025. "The international entrepreneurial intention of SMEs towards China: A network approach," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 502-527, June.
    13. Takawira Munyaradzi Ndofirepi, 2022. "Entrepreneurship goal and implementation intentions formation: the role of higher education institutions and contexts," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    14. 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.
    15. Cai Li & Majid Murad & Hassnain Javed & Saba Fazal Firdousi & Sheikh Farhan Ashraf, 2021. "An empirical investigation on the relationship between individual traits and entrepreneurial business intentions: measuring a mediation effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy through partial least squares structural equation modeling," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 533-549, December.
    16. Shalini Shukla & Rakesh Kumar, 2024. "Venturing into a New Business: Do Self-efficacy and Risk-taking Propensity Help?," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 49(1), pages 25-44, March.

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