An analysis of sustainability-driven entrepreneurial intentions among university students: the role of university support and SDG knowledge

Abstract

PurposeThe study aims to shed light on the role of university support (US), environmental concern (EC) and Sustainable Development Goal knowledge (SDGK) in forming students' intention (SI) to engage in sustainability-driven entrepreneurship. The authors attempted to blend the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and social cognitive career theory (SCCT) as a potentially useful theoretical base for sustainability-driven entrepreneurial intention (SDEI) development.Design/methodology/approachThe responses were collected from university students in India using a self-administered questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) are used to examine the data.FindingsThe university support strongly influences students' attitudes towards sustainable entrepreneurship (ATT) and outcome expectations (OEs). Also, the degree of understanding about SDGs among students was alarmingly low, which has crucial negative consequences for future SDG achievement.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study may assist academicians and environmental strategists in deciding the crucial factors influencing SI to start a sustainable business. The study highlights the importance of universities in promoting entrepreneurial sustainability decisions.Originality/valueThis research will add value to the prevailing literature in the area of sustainable entrepreneurship as it explores the effects of environmental concern, SDGK and the role of US on sustainable entrepreneurial intention (EI) among Indian engineering students.

Connecting Sustainable Development with Media, Journalism and Communication Programs in European Universities

“…et al, 2019). Universities around the world have in recent years become very receptive to change in the direction of integrating the education for sustainability in various forms (Daú, G., Scavarda, A., Alves, M. T. R., Santa, R., and Ferrer, M., 2023), (Sharma, L., Bulsara, H.P., Trivedi, M. and Bagdi, H., 2023) both in terms of teaching (introducing new study programs or updating existing ones, courses or themes), and in terms of research, through articles published in prestigious scientific journals, or related activities such as the establishment of research centres, the organization of conference events, the organization of summer schools, etc. Moreover, the education experts co-opted by the UN point out: "HEIs have a particularly important role to play in progress towards the SDGs.…”

Entrepreneurship education and sustainability for the configuration of sustainable entrepreneurial intentions in university students

“…Uno de los mecanismos que contribuyen a la formación de estos valores ha sido la educación (Truong et al, 2022), la conciencia ambiental y la vinculación de jóvenes en actividades de limpieza, separación de residuos, siembra de árboles, entre otros; a su vez, la educación también ha reconocido la importancia de incluir la sostenibilidad en el currículo, la divulgación de los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible (ODS) y la realización de talleres y congresos que inviten a la vinculación de estudiantes. Estas actividades pueden ser de mayor relevancia dependiendo de la universidad y de la manera en cómo se identifica la institución con respecto a su misión (Sharma et al, 2023).…”

“…En su estructura curricular cuenta con formación en los ODS, así como asignaturas enfocadas en el desarrollo del espíritu emprendedor, desde la ideación del negocio y el diseño de planes de negocio. La presente investigación pretende identificar la importancia de la estructura curricular en la intención emprendedora sostenible en estudiantes de licenciatura, a partir del instrumento propuesto por Sharma et al (2023). Esta investigación se propone validar el modelo, evaluando, además, la necesidad de fortalecer, desde una perspectiva institucional, aquellos aspectos que inciden positivamente en el fortalecimiento de la intención emprendedora de los estudiantes.…”

Exploring sustainable entrepreneurial intentions through the lens of theory of planned behaviour: a PLS-SEM approach

“…However, there are still little data about how EI works in varied circumstances (Vuorio et al. , 2018), though EI is assumed to be useful in both practical and academic aspects (Sharma et al ., 2023).…”

“…However, one school of thought holds that sustainable entrepreneurs may create value by developing an enterprise that prioritises sustainability and includes environmental concerns (Yasir et al, 2023). However, there are still little data about how EI works in varied circumstances (Vuorio et al, 2018), though EI is assumed to be useful in both practical and academic aspects (Sharma et al, 2023).…”