Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindset: Examining the Synergy of Education, Social Networks, and Growth in Emerging Economies

Abstract

This study aims to examine the association of university students’ entrepreneurship education and social support with their entrepreneurial intention, and investigate the mediating role of self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude for the above relationship. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the study hypotheses were tested with the data collected from a sample of 420 Bangladeshi university students. The results revealed a significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and social support to self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude. Noticeably, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude completely mediate the direct relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention. Based on the study findings, we provide policymakers with some notable insights into how entrepreneurship education and social support are salient to improve students’ entrepreneurial intentions through influencing their self-efficacy beliefs and entrepreneurial attitudes. A vibrant and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem could be developed with the aid of the study. In addition, this study may help identify new opportunities for entrepreneurial activity and foster the development of innovative and sustainable business models. This study ends with highlighting its limitations and suggesting directions for future research.