Impact of entrepreneurial curriculum on entrepreneurial competencies among students: The mediating role of the campus learning environment in higher education

Abstract

This study explored the direct and indirect influences of the entrepreneurial curriculum on entrepreneurial competencies, using the campus learning environment as a mediator. In this study, a survey questionnaire composed of 48 items was used to collect data on the entrepreneurial curriculum, entrepreneurial competencies, and campus learning environment from pre-service vocational teachers enrolled in six universities located in Hunan Province, China. The entrepreneurial curriculum has four components, namely, curriculum content, curriculum material, teaching strategies, and feedback and assessment. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used through SmartPLS 3.3.3 to measure the effects. The curriculum content has a direct, significant, and positive influence on entrepreneurial competencies. For the indirect influence, all four dimensions of the entrepreneurial curriculum influenced the campus learning environment, which, in turn, was positively associated with entrepreneurial competencies. The campus learning environment was therefore revealed to play a mediating role between the entrepreneurial curriculum and entrepreneurial competencies. The study explored that effective entrepreneurial curriculum delivery and campus learning environment are helpful for developing entrepreneurial competencies among the pre-service vocational teachers. Universities should take initiatives to update the entrepreneurial curriculum and create a conducive campus learning environment that brings a positive change to develop entrepreneurial competencies among their students. Moreover, practical implications and future research directions are also discussed in this article.

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“…The findings demonstrated how crucial a role the learning environment plays in helping students build their entrepreneurial skills and competences. These results are consistent with earlier study on the impact of the educational environment on the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and competencies in students (Iqbal et al, 2022), this study found that most students (>50%) had a modest level of entrepreneurial competency.…”

Effect of entrepreneurial education and creativity on entrepreneurial intention in college students: mediating entrepreneurial inspiration, mindset, and self-efficiency

“…This demonstrates that students nowadays have a mindset of entrepreneurship and have thought about both the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur. In a similar vein, Iqbal et al (2022) stated in a prior study that having a mindset of entrepreneurship helps students have a better understanding of a variety of outcomes and circumstances that are crucial for entrepreneurial studies.…”

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“…"The competency approach applied to an entrepreneurial context can be a baseline standard for creating a new venture" (Fragoso, Rocha-Junior, Xavier, 2020, p. 3). Iqbal et al (2022) defined entrepreneurial competencies as "the set of behavioural predispositions that influence students' abilities to succeed in an entrepreneurial venture" (Iqbal et al, 2022). Entrepreneurial competencies is "the overall capability of the entrepreneur to execute a job role successfully" (Al Mamun, Nawi, Shamsudin, 2016).…”

“…Assessing the development of students' entrepreneurial competences, skills and intentions, and the relationship between basic entrepreneurial competences that must be developed in an educational context is currently becoming an increasingly important subject of interest, highlighted by many scientists and researchers around the world (Solesvik, Entrepreneurship education is an emerging direction for the development of the entrepreneurial mindset around the world (Iqbal et al, 2022). It is a key factor in the development of a favourable approach to undertaking new ventures.…”