Entrepreneurial intent among prospective graduates of higher education institution: an exploratory investigation in Kafa, Sheka, and Bench-Maji Zones, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present results of an exploratory study conducted on entrepreneurial intent among graduating class students of higher education institutions in Kafa, Sheka, and Bench-Maji Zones, Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia. The research design of the study was a cross-sectional survey design where relevant data were collected through questionnaires from a sample of 347 University and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College graduating class students. The data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics (bar graph and pie chart) and inferential statistics (chi-square goodness-of-fit test, independent samples t test, and one-way between-group analysis of variance). The study found out that among prospective graduates of higher education institutions in the study area, only 45.4–50.6% had low, 24–33.7% had moderate, and 18–25% had a high level of entrepreneurial intent. The study also showed that the level of higher education, prior experience of self-employment, and the chance of taking extracurricular entrepreneurship courses were the three demographic and other distal variables that explained the difference in entrepreneurial intent among the study population. The study, however, showed gender, the chance of taking entrepreneurship courses as part of curriculum, college, department, parent’s occupation, and level of education had no statistically significant association with entrepreneurial intent of the study population. The study is expected to hold relevant inputs to politicians and national policy-makers, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, entrepreneurial intent researchers, and model developers.

Socio-Economic Determinants Of Changes In The Regional Entrepreneurship Environment Development

“…We agree with the opinion of Issa and Tesfaye (2020) that representatives of the domestic scientific school of economics consider entrepreneurship as an economic category, method of management, type of economic thinking. That is, as an economic category, entrepreneurship reflects the relationship between its subjects regarding the production, distribution and appropriation of goods and services; as a type of economic thinking, the essence of entrepreneurship is reduced to the initiative, innovation, independent activity; as a method of management entrepreneurship involves the most complete and effective use of factors of production and the desire to realize their creative abilities (Issa & Tesfaye, 2020).…”

“…Somewhat later, the scientific principles of entrepreneurship were studied by Issa and Tesfaye (2020) and other researchers. According to some scientists, the process of developing the theory of entrepreneurship took place based on the understanding the relevant practice in four stages (Gartner et al, 1994).…”

“…Modern trends in the local entrepreneurial activity are reflected in the works of Boiko (2018a), Lugova and Ermolenko (2017), Issa and Tesfaye (2020), Jones and Wadhwani (2006), Sudak (2017) and other economists who during a long-time of period studied the concept of regional development and economic effectiveness .…”

Educación para el emprendimiento y la intención de emprender

“…El segundo estudio, elaborado por Astudillo, et al, (2019) encontró que las percepciones de los estudiantes en su intención de emprender no varía significativamente después de recibir la cátedra de emprendimiento. Otros estudios encontraron una relación negativa (Issa & Tesfaye, 2020;Oosterbeek, et al, 2010). Sin embargo, de acuerdo a una investigación desarrollada por Lorz, Müller, & Volery (2011) sobre el impacto de la educación en el emprendimiento arrojó que, de 41 artículos analizados, 33 encontraron un impacto positivo, 6 con resultados mixtos y 2 con resultados negativos, lo que confirmaría la fuerte incidencia de la educación empresarial en el emprendimiento.…”