Self-employment intentions among the universities' students in Malaysia

Abstract

This study aims to explore the self-employment intentions of the universities' students in Malaysia. With the growing number of graduates every year, and growing funds created to assist small enterprises in Malaysia, self-employment may be one option available to them to start on their careers. Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation (EAO) scale was used to measure the students' entrepreneurial attitudes. Specifically, the EAO attitude subscales are achievement in business, innovation in business, perceived personal control of business outcomes and perceived self-esteem in business. A survey approach was adopted by sending questionnaires to 2000 students of the public and private universities that are listed under tier 5 (Excellent) in the Malaysia Quality Agency SETARA rating of year 2011. The results show that personal control, self-esteem and innovation were found to have significant and positive relationships with self-employment intention. Meanwhile achievement was found to have no significant relationship with self-employment intention. These findings provide important insight to relevant parties to embed more entrepreneurial curriculum or seminar to educate and guide universities students besides, promoting and producing a positive image of entrepreneurship as a career.