The impact of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial attitude on entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students in Uganda

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the impact of entrepreneurship education and attitude on students’ entrepreneurial intentions using Liñán’s entrepreneurial intention model. To attain the objective of the study, a cross sectional and explanatory survey approach were employed. Systematic sampling technique was utilized to collect data from a sample of 458 final year undergraduate students from Makerere and Kyambogo Universities in Uganda. Data was analyzed using Hayes (2018) Process macro vs3.2 (Model 4). Study findings indicate that there is no significant difference in the entrepreneurial intentions between business and non-business students. Entrepreneurship education and attitude were found to be significant predictors of students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Results also indicate that attitude partially mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions. Theoretically, our study validates Liñán’s entrepreneurial intention model in a developing country like Uganda. The study contributes to the already existing literature in regard to the direct effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intentions and creates new insights on the indirect effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, the study suggests practical implications to policymakers, educators, and curriculum developers. The study tested the entrepreneurial intention model by Liñán and creates new knowledge in the area of the mediating effect of entrepreneurial attitude in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions