Developing an “entrepreneurial engineer mindset” to expand future career opportunities for engineering graduates in Jordanian universities

Abstract

This research investigated how entrepreneurial skills influence the mindset of an entrepreneurial engineer. The total number of engineering graduates participating in this research was 65 students who graduated between 2016 and 2022. The results indicated that the entrepreneurial skills of engineering graduates ranged from average to good. The results also indicated that there is a positive, statistically significant relationship between the entrepreneurial skills of engineering graduates and their entrepreneurial mindset. This research concluded that it is essential for engineering students to acquire entrepreneurial skills that support their engineering major and lead them to think broadly about their future career opportunities. Hence, entrepreneurial skills enhance their competitiveness in innovative and emerging engineering disciplines. This research supports the integration of entrepreneurship skills with practical applications in all engineering curricula and courses in universities. This research contributes to the literature as it is one of the few studies that addressed expanding the entrepreneurial horizons of engineering graduates and directing them towards entrepreneurial projects. It also addressed the need to review university engineering curricula to include entrepreneurial skills and capabilities.