The influence of education and environmental support on entrepreneurial intentions

Abstract

Purpose: Promoting entrepreneurship requires a dual policy approach that must emphasize the present and future vision of entrepreneurship. With more attention given to the present, the current study aims to fill this gap by examining the indirect effect of environmental support and the direct effect of education on entrepreneurial intentions among female university students. Approach/Methodology/Design: Data were collected from 184 valid responses final-year students in Omani universities. Structural equation modeling by means of partial least square bootstrapping resampling was used for hypotheses testing of the 184 usable responses. Findings: Statistically significant positive relationship was found between entrepreneurial education and intentions and between support and education. Education played an important mediating role in the relationship between support and intentions. However, structural support had no effect on education and intentions. Practical Implications: With large investments made in education, policymakers can focus efforts more precisely in utilize the findings on the ability of education and environmental support to increase the intentions of graduates in the field of entrepreneurship. Originality/Value: The examination of entrepreneurial intentions using environmental support and education as indirect and direct predictors is unprecedented. These results reduce the search for antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions and provide educators with a more precise point for intervention.