Entrepreneurial Attitude and Intention in Higher Education Students: What Factors Matter?

Abstract This study seeks to understand the main factors predicting the future entrepreneurial attitude and intention of higher education students. To do so, a questionnaire was sent to a sample of 508 students at a higher education institution (HEI) in the central region of Portugal. From a structural equation model, the results show that students’ entrepreneurial attitude is influenced positively, and with statistical significance, by Entrepreneurial Benefits, Entrepreneurial Passion, Psychological Cognition Factors and Religion Beliefs. On the other hand, the factors/dimensions of Self-Confidence and Creativity are found not to have a statistically significant influence on the Entrepreneurial Attitude of the students studied. In turn, entrepreneurial attitude was a direct and mediated predictor of students’ entrepreneurial intention. The results of the study can explain the influence of important factors on students’ entrepreneurial attitude and intention, presenting relevant challenges for HEIs to develop and provide more courses and programmes aimed at entrepreneurship. Such initiatives are a way to motivate students to be future entrepreneurs, raising business development and growth in the economy in general, and the country in particular. This study also makes an important contribution to the literature on higher education students’ attitude towards entrepreneurship and its influence on their future entrepreneurial intention. People with a strong entrepreneurial attitude and intention are needed to allow development, growth and innovation in the business sector. These actions can motivate students to be future entrepreneurs raising the business development and growth of the economy in general.