Perception of the quality of higher education by university students: the role and importance of the public sector

Abstract

The public sector is perceived as a cornerstone of societal growth and development, innovation, social inclusion, and economic progress. Ensuring an environment that supports these key aspects requires effective governance, transparency, and investments, including investments in education. The role of the public sector should include providing high-quality and accessible higher education, which significantly influences students’ entrepreneurial motivation. Offering a solid foundation for developing entrepreneurial skills, competencies, creativity, and self-confidence is an essential component of the quality of higher education. This study focuses on examining the perception of the quality of higher education by university students in selected Central European countries in the context of entrepreneurial intentions. It also highlights the role and importance of the public sector in shaping students’ entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes, thereby providing new insights into the impact of the educational environment on entrepreneurial motivation. The research employed quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analysis. The empirical research was conducted in May 2024 on a sample of 1,783 university students in Central European countries. The study included 576 respondents from Slovakia (16 universities), 612 respondents from the Czech Republic (11 universities), and 595 respondents from Poland (15 universities). Scientific hypotheses were tested using chi-square and Z-score tests. Emphasis was placed on examining differences in attitudes across countries, genders, levels of study, and fields of study. The results confirm that the perception of educational quality and its impact on entrepreneurial intentions are relatively homogeneous, although certain regional differences exist among the studied countries, as well as when comparing countries by gender, level of education, and field of study. The findings contribute to original knowledge about regional differences and opportunities for improving educational policies, which is significant for policies and practices in higher education and entrepreneurship support. The study serves as a unique foundation for potential future research with broader scope and impact.