Determinacy of Social Awareness and Cosmopolitanism Towards Female Students’ Social Entrepreneurship Intention

Abstract

The declining female workforce participation in Malaysia, despite the increase in female graduates, has emerged as a worrisome trend. Recent reports from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) indicate that a significant proportion of unemployed graduates in 2022 were women, accounting for 54.2% of the total. This gender disparity in the workforce poses obstacles to female participation in nation-building and impedes economic growth. To tackle this issue, it is essential to explore the determinants of social entrepreneurship intention (SEI) among female students in Malaysian higher learning institutions, considering the potential of entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship, in addressing unemployment. This study aims to investigate the influence of social awareness and cosmopolitanism on SEI among female students, utilizing the model proposed by Hockerts (2017) and employing regression analysis on a sample of 273 respondents. The results highlight the significant impact of social awareness and cosmopolitanism on SEI among female graduates in Malaysia. Moreover, the findings underscore the substantial roles played by self-efficacy and perceived social support in fostering SEI. To further examine the results, crosstabulation is employed. These findings hold significant implications for policies and programs aimed at encouraging and nurturing female graduates to actively contribute to the nation's development through social entrepreneurship. By addressing the gender gap in the workforce, promoting economic growth, and enhancing social welfare, these initiatives can foster a more inclusive and prosperous society.