Passion is fundamental to starting a business because it stimulates motivation, improves intellectual activity, and provides meaning for daily work. This research investigates the role of entrepreneurial passion as a prelude to entrepreneurial intention. The theory of planned behavior was used as an underpinning theory. A conceptual framework was developed and tested to determine their contributions to entrepreneurial intentions. The correlation between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intentions is moderated by perception of university support to determine if it enhances the entrepreneurial intention to become a successful entrepreneur. The sample (N = 395) was identified using a convenience sampling technique and is comprised of university business students in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The questionnaire comprised two sections used for data collection, and Smart-PLS was used to analyze the hypotheses. The findings have indicated that there is a strong positive relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intentions. The analysis showed that the concept of university support alleviates the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention. The moderation effect of perception of university support on the association between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention was recognized in this study. Thus, it called for exploring this moderating effect from other perspectives. As an implication to policy, the government bodies should ensure students have access to an entrepreneurial atmosphere. Specifically, the ministry of education and HEC Pakistan could consider this for the design of university syllabuses, thereby leading to more impactful education of entrepreneurship.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the potential determinants of entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) among business students. To that end, the study investigates the role of entrepreneurship education (EE) and entrepreneurial passion (EP) (inventing and founding), as well as the mediating role of attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) and the moderating role of university support.Design/methodology/approachA close-ended questionnaire measured on a seven-point Likert scale was used to collect data from business students at nine universities in Punjab, Pakistan. The sample size comprises 377 participants who were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was then applied to assess the study’s model and the postulated hypothesis.FindingsThe findings indicated that (a) every independent variable (IV) directly impacts EI [dependent variable (DV)] except EP for founding (EPF), (b) ATE significantly mediates the relationship between IV and DV (c) perceived university support positively moderates the relationship between ATE and EI.Originality/valueAs an implication to policy, the Government must ensure that students are exposed to business environments and find university support through different paths. Specifically, Pakistan’s Minister of Education and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) may consider designing university programs that lead to more influential EE. The empirical findings may help policymakers develop effective policies for promoting entrepreneurship.

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Distance learning in Malaysia has seen phenomenal growth especially in higher education where there are numerous universities offering online courses that have specifically provided access to students who were challenged by space and time constraints. Regardless of the dramatic increase of online courses and student enrollment, there are many indications that online courses are unsuccessful at meeting students' needs and students are dissatisfied with their online course experiences, which brings about a serious concern regarding the dropout rates of online courses. For solving this issue, it is crucial that researchers identify and study the factors that lead to student satisfaction with online courses because course satisfaction is considered to be the largest determinant in reducing dropout in distance learning environment. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of institutional factors in terms of support including technical support, administrative support, and university support toward course satisfaction among 367 undergraduate distance students in Malaysian research universities. The result of the study revealed that institutional factors were a significantly positive, and strong factor associated with course satisfaction. Further, both direct and indirect effects of institutional factors on course satisfaction were significant, which means the effect of this variable on course satisfaction is partially mediated by perceived learning.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 in early 2020 caused most of higher learning institutions to close the campuses and forced them to initiate online teaching and learning. Since, regular classrooms are temporarily empty, this paper focuses on the online education experiences of three Asian universities during the COID-19 pandemic. For the purpose of the current study from each case, Up to Six (6) specific instructional strategies are presented in each case. The strategies summarized current online teaching experiences which can be used by other faculty members in similar circumstances.