Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of relational support, educational support and self-confidence on entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate business students in a university. Design/methodology/approach To empirically validate the conceptual model and test the hypothesised relationships, the authors collected data from 227 business students at an AACSB-accredited university in Malaysia through random sampling. Findings The results were based on analyses from structural equation modelling using the SmartPLS software. The findings show that entrepreneurial intention of business students is significantly influenced by educational and relational support; however, the moderating effects of self-confidence in the relationship between educational support, relational support and entrepreneurial intention are not significant. The paper clearly shows that relational and educational supports are two important factors that can influence the entrepreneurial intention of university students. Originality/value This research contributes to literature on entrepreneurial motivations and intentions through its empirical findings of the hypothesised relationships. It theoretically contributes to existing knowledge by integrating relevant themes from entrepreneurial motivations theory and the theory of planned behaviour. Finally, it offers alternative recommendations to university authorities and policymakers about business students’ entrepreneurship intention.

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The recent paradigm shift from recruitment of international students to retention of students encouraged radical changes on the consumption of educational services from university serving the students for creation of mutually beneficial relationship between the students and the university. The impact of globalization hit the economy in two paradoxes; first, consumers have more choices but less satisfaction; second, service providers have more strategic options, which yield less value. Against this background, this study proposed and validated destination loyalty model to arrest the increasing students' attrition at study location. The declining state funding of higher education challenged the management of education sector to design sustainable competitive advantage strategy not only to attract but also to retain students at their study destination. A total of 498 data was solicited from international students at Malaysian public universities, partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the reliability and validity of items and constructs. The results show that relationship marketing dynamism of service quality, students' satisfaction, perceive image, perceived value and personal reasons were stable for international student loyalty to study destination. A new model called 2S2P was developed for emerging education destinations. Theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future studies were documented in the paper.

Before his PhD Program, Aliyu has worked as information offi cer with the Federal Ministry of Information in Nigeria for 8 years and Nokia Global Customer Contact Center as a CRM technical expert. His professional experience and consultancy cut across both the inbound and outbound CRM contact centres. He holds MSC, PGD, HND and Professional Certifi cate in International Contact Center Management.