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Cited by 91Entrepreneurship Studies and InfluencesVocational and Entrepreneurial EducationMigration, Ethnicity, and Economy

The development of entrepreneurial potential among higher education students

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Varamäki, Elina, Joensuu, Sanna, Tornikoski, Erno, Viljamaa, Anmari·2015·Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
DOI 10.1108/jsbed-02-2012-0027
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Abstract

Purpose: – The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how entrepreneurial potential is developed among young people. Changes in individuals’ entrepreneurial intentions and the antecedents of intentions are investigated, as well as the impact of entrepreneurship education on the changes. Design/methodology/approach: – Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is applied. Longitudinal data from 197 HE students, in their first and third year of studies, is examined using path analysis. Findings: – Overall the entrepreneurial intentions of HE students decreased over time. Intentions decreased particularly for those with high initial level of intentions, whereas the group with increasing intentions rose from low to neutral level of intentions. Changes in attitudes and perceived behavioral control have a significant positive impact. Versatile entrepreneurship courses have direct effect on changes in attitudes. Changes in attitudes have a dual role, as they influence change in both intentions and perceived behavioral control. The developed model explains 19 percent of the variance among women and 28 percent among men, suggesting gender differences in development of intentions. Research limitations/implications: – Only one way of developing entrepreneurial potential in young people (i.e. education) is covered. The empirical sample is limited to one university. Practical implications: – The results suggest versatile methods of entrepreneurship education are more effective in developing intentions than perhaps purely active modes. Gender differences should be considered when designing interventions to foster entrepreneurial potential. Originality/value: – The research confirms with longitudinal individual-level data the applicability of TPB on entrepreneurial intentions and demonstrates the mediated impact of versatile entrepreneurship courses on changes in intentions.

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  • The action-oriented training approach used in the ILO training has been found to be generally more effective in promoting entrepreneurship behaviors than other training approaches.

    “This action-oriented training approach has been found to be generally more effective in promoting entrepreneurship behaviors than other training approaches (Campos et al., 2017;Nabi et al., 2017;Varamäki et al., 2015).”

    From The impact of growth mindset training on entrepreneurial action among necessity entrepreneurs: Evidence from a randomized control trial (2023) · cites this paper as Varamäki et al., 2015

    The Discussion and Conclusions (page unavailable) reports that active-based courses influenced higher-education students’ attitudes and had an indirect effect on entrepreneurial intentions. It does not establish that the ILO training approach is generally more effective than other approaches at promoting entrepreneurial behaviors; the study compared students taking both active- and lecture-based courses with those taking lecture-based courses only. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Varamäki, E., Joensuu, S., Tornikoski, E., & Viljamaa, A.
Affiliations
  • Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (FI)
  • Grenoble Ecole de Management (FR)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
Publisher
Emerald
Published
2015-08-17
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
563-589
ISSN
1462-6004 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1108/jsbed-02-2012-0027
OpenAlex
W1851063964
Cited by
91
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
10.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.emerald.com/insight/site-policies (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (publishedVersion)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
Funders
European Regional Development Fund
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management of Technology and Innovation › Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Education › Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy
Keywords
entrepreneurial potential, entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurship education, university students, theory of planned behavior, entrepreneurial attitude, perceived behavioral control, gender differences

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