Empowering entrepreneurs: A gender-sensitive examination of experiential Learning's impact on entrepreneurial intention through self-efficacy and attitude

Abstract

This study examines the gender-related connections among experiential learning, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial attitude, and entrepreneurial intention within Indian higher education contexts. Students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses provided primary data collated through a structured questionnaire. A total of 1200 students were contacted, and 669 valid responses were obtained, providing a response rate of 55.75 percent. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to assess the associations between experiential learning, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial attitude, and entrepreneurial intention. The results suggest that entrepreneurial intentions are directly related with experiential learning and entrepreneurial attitude in both genders. Additionally, for both sexes, the indirect effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy between entrepreneurial intentions and experiential learning was significant and stronger than its direct effect. It was specifically observed that male students exhibited relatively greater entrepreneurial aspirations as measured by entrepreneurial self-efficacy, in comparison to their female counterparts. One could posit that gender considerations should be incorporated into entrepreneurial policies. Furthermore, the formulation of policies ought to be such that they bolster the vulnerabilities of a specific gender.