ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG GRADUATES: A SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITY

Entrepreneurship is very important for the economy of a country and it is seen as a key force for economic development. In less developed countries where poverty and mass unemployment are the dominant facts of economic life, entrepreneurship is considered as a solution to face unemployment. Entrepreneurs are the engines of the economy, who use their knowledge and inspiration accompanied with a great risk to provide new, challenging products and services. The aim of this study is to understand the graduates’ attempts towards entrepreneurial activities, some of the factors that motivated them to become entrepreneurs and barriers that they faced. The quantitative data is used to present the findings of an exploratory research which was applied on alumni of Epoka University via a structured questionnaire. A sample of 115 graduates is collected from their answers. Through descriptive analysis is determined the impact of knowledge, skills, work experience, and inspirational model on the entrepreneurial intent of Epoka University graduates, to promote entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, develop innovation and strengthen the economy. Besides entrepreneurs, this study investigates the entrepreneurial intent of employed and unemployed alumni and concluded they had a positive attitude towards it. This study tends to contribute to the university as well as the Government in increasing efforts to encourage more students to entrepreneurship activities as their career path upon graduation. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Graduates, Opportunities, Competences, Epoka University, Albania