Reconsidering What Entrepreneurial Intention Implies: The Evidence from Malaysian University Students
Francis Chuah, Hiram Ting, Ernest Cyril de Run, Jun-Hwa Cheah
Abstract
Entrepreneurship development has been designated as a key component in economic transformation and
educational programs in Malaysia. The government has introduced various initiatives to cultivate entrepreneurial
spirit among younger generations, especially the university students. Despite the magnitude of these efforts, little
is known whether university students today are entrepreneurial. Notwithstanding the abundance of literature on
entrepreneurship, factors affecting students’ entrepreneurial intention and why the number of entrepreneurs and
new businesses still remain low require continual assessment. Hence, the present study is aimed at investigating
entrepreneurial intention among university students in Malaysia. The extended theory of planned behaviour is
adopted to specifically look at the effect of belief and behavioural factors on entrepreneurial intention. Using field
data collected from 257 university students in Malaysia, all postulated relationships are examined using partial
least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings suggest that behavioural factors, namely
attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control, have significant effect on entrepreneurial intention.
It is also found that perceived barriers and perceived support have positive impact on attitude and subjective
norms respectively. The study highlights the need to inculcate university students with entrepreneurial knowledge
as well as provide platform for them to acquire entrepreneurial experience so as to transform entrepreneurial
intention into actual behaviour.
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