Search Results (137)

Women’s empowerment through social entrepreneurship has become an important strategy for promoting social inclusion and sustainable rural development, particularly in culturally distinctive communities. However, limited evidence explains how individual and environmental factors encourage women to transform social entrepreneurial intentions into concrete actions. This study aims to investigate the determinants of social entrepreneurial behaviour among entrepreneurs committed to empowering Madurese women. It examines the moderating role of environmental munificence in the relationship between social entrepreneurial intention and behaviour. A quantitative approach was employed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse survey data collected from 143 entrepreneurs on Madura Island, Indonesia. The findings indicate that empathy and self-efficacy positively influence social entrepreneurial intention, whereas moral obligation has no significant effect. Social entrepreneurial intention significantly predicts social entrepreneurial behaviour, and environmental munificence strengthens this relationship by providing supportive conditions for entrepreneurial action. These findings highlight the importance of combining individual capabilities with enabling social environments to foster women’s empowerment. The study contributes to research on gender, rural development, and social entrepreneurship by providing evidence from an underexplored cultural context and offering practical implications for policymakers and community development initiatives. Full article

Generative AI is reshaping how workers form digital commerce entrepreneurial intentions, yet how AI-related fear of missing out (AI-FoMO) converts into proactive entrepreneurial behavior remains unclear. Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study tests a model in which AI-FoMO drives AI reliance, which in turn shapes two distinct cognitive routes: a tool-referenced route through perceived task automation (PTA) and an agent-referenced route through borrowed entrepreneurial competence (BEC), a newly proposed construct capturing how human–AI coupling reshapes workers’ self-perceived capability for solo digital entrepreneurship. We further test whether digital self-efficacy (DSE) moderates the conversion of these perceptions into intention. Survey data from 328 Korean workers were analyzed using PLS-SEM. AI-FoMO predicted AI reliance (β = 0.391), which shaped both PTA (β = 0.531) and BEC (β = 0.291); both routes predicted entrepreneurial intention, and both serial mediation paths were significant, with the PTA route approximately 2.6 times stronger than the BEC route. DSE moderated only the BEC route (β = 0.105, p = 0.025), not the PTA route (β = −0.077, p = 0.109), an asymmetry confirmed by a formal coefficient-difference test. The findings reframe AI-FoMO as a potential driver of approach-oriented entrepreneurial behavior, introduce BEC as an extension of vicarious experience to the human–AI context, and show that digital self-efficacy selectively regulates how AI-induced perceptions convert into entrepreneurial intention. Full article

Universities worldwide face escalating financial pressures while simultaneously confronting demands to adopt sustainable practices. This study examines whether Sustainable Green Innovation (SGI) serves as the central transmission mechanism through which AI-Driven Entrepreneurial Orientation (AI-DEO) and Green Metrics for Self-Efficacy (GMSE) influence University Financial Sustainability (UFS) in higher education institutions, within the broader framework of Circular Economy Principles (CEP). Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 1279 faculty and staff members at King Faisal University (Saudi Arabia) and Benha University (Egypt) between October 2025 and January 2026. Regression-based structural path analysis with nonparametric bootstrapped mediation testing (5000 resamples) was employed to test four hypotheses. The results show that AI-DEO emerged as the dominant positive predictor of SGI (β = 0.732, p < 0.001), while GMSE did not show a statistically significant association with SGI once AI-DEO was included in the model (β = −0.034, p = 0.246). SGI emerged as the strongest predictor of UFS (β = 0.369, p < 0.001), supporting an innovation-mediated route to financial sustainability. The indirect effect of CEP on SGI through AI-DEO was statistically significant (indirect = 0.3473; 95% CI [0.3123, 0.3835]), supporting full mediation. Hypotheses H1, H2a, H2b, and H3 were supported; H4 was not supported. These findings indicate that financial resilience in universities is primarily innovation-mediated and orientation-driven. The study contributes to the sustainability-in-higher-education literature by clarifying SGI as a central transmission mechanism and highlighting the importance of building operational green competence alongside strategic AI-Driven entrepreneurial orientation. Full article

This study employs a qualitative narrative inquiry to explore how support systems and industry engagement influence youth employability and entrepreneurial aspirations within South Africa’s TVET sector. The central research question examines how young people’s personal stories reveal the impact of systemic barriers and support mechanisms on their identity construction, resilience, and agency. Using in-depth interviews and focus groups with 24 purposively sampled youth across Gauteng’s TVET colleges, the analysis combines thematic and narrative approaches to uncover recurring patterns and narrative structures. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 30, with a balanced gender distribution, representing various socio-economic backgrounds and career interests, selected through purposive sampling to ensure data richness and saturation. The analysis integrated thematic and narrative approaches, with a detailed coding process, theme development, and measures to mitigate bias through member checking and peer debriefing. Findings indicate that experiential learning, mentorship, family encouragement, and industry connections serve as critical support mechanisms that shape youth perceptions of opportunity and self-efficacy. Conversely, systemic barriers such as resource limitations and skills mismatches are frequently narrated as obstacles constraining pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. The study concludes that integrating youth narratives into policy development can foster more inclusive and effective strategies for youth empowerment. These insights contribute to the literature on youth employment by highlighting the active role of storytelling in identity negotiation and social critique within socio-economic contexts. Full article

This study examines the associations among entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial resilience, financial constraints, and sustainable business practices among micro and small women entrepreneurs in the West Bank, Palestine. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, a moderated mediation model is proposed and explored in which entrepreneurial resilience mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and sustainable business practices, while financial constraints moderate this indirect pathway. Survey data were collected from 282 micro and small women entrepreneurs through a purposive stratified sample facilitated by microfinance institution and NGO networks, and the model was assessed using partial least squares structural equation modeling via SmartPLS 4. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial self-efficacy is positively associated with sustainable business practices both directly and indirectly through entrepreneurial resilience. Financial constraints significantly weaken the resilience-to-practices pathway, and the moderated mediation analysis reveals that the indirect association diminishes as financial constraints intensify. These findings contribute to sustainable entrepreneurship theory by identifying the sequential psychological pathway through which self-efficacy translates into responsible business conduct and by establishing material resource scarcity as a boundary condition of that pathway in fragile economy contexts. Full article

This study examines the determinants of entrepreneurial intention among students from a Romanian economics faculty. Based on the empirical findings, the paper proposes a Filtered Entrepreneurial Intent Model. Although the traditional literature supports a linear relationship between creativity and intention, the regression analysis in this research identifies a series of psychological paradoxes and barriers. The methodology combines exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to build psychological dimensions with binomial logistic regression to test hypotheses on a sample of 237 students. The empirical results directly demonstrate that self-efficacy and resilience are positive predictors, while counterintuitive negative correlations are found for proactivity and innovation. A key statistical finding is that financial risk-taking acts as a significant moderator: innovation acts as a catalyst for intent only when a student’s risk tolerance threshold is exceeded. Data also show a significant impact of inherited windfall capital, which serves as a structural factor surpassing personality traits. Conceptually, the study interprets these findings by proposing that the intention-behaviour gap is governed by a filtration process. The study concludes by offering practical recommendations for academic decision-makers to recalibrate programmes beyond merely stimulating creativity, addressing the psychological and structural filters identified. Full article

The development of entrepreneurial competences has become established as a strategic learning outcome in higher education. However, shortcomings persist in students’ competency profiles, which have led institutions to design training programs aimed at strengthening entrepreneurial mindsets and improving the employability of their graduates. This study examines entrepreneurial competences among university students from a gender perspective within digitally mediated learning contexts. To this end, a quantitative methodology was employed, using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design with a sample of 705 students (77% women and 23% men), with a mean of 4.56 years of professional experience. Entrepreneurial competences were assessed using a validated questionnaire measuring five dimensions: self-awareness and self-confidence, vision of the future, achievement motivation, planning, and persuasion. The results show moderately high levels of entrepreneurial competences, with achievement motivation emerging as the strongest dimension. Gender differences were limited, except in self-awareness and self-confidence, where men obtained higher scores, while women showed a stronger positive tendency in achievement motivation, suggesting differentiated patterns of competence development. Sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, and early work experience showed a modest but statistically significant predictive effect on entrepreneurial competences, highlighting the relevance of integrating psychological, cultural, and contextual factors in future research. The study highlights the potential of inclusive and personalized pedagogical strategies to strengthen self-efficacy, motivation, and equity in the development of entrepreneurial competences in higher education, and the results are discussed in relation to their relevance for current digitally mediated educational contexts, labour market competence demands, and their alignment with international frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Full article

Opera Out of Opera 2 (OOO2) is a Creative Europe cooperation project that experiments with digital, participatory strategies to reconnect opera with younger audiences and to reshape professional capacity for conservatory students. Rather than treating opera as a fixed repertoire to be transmitted, the project frames it as a site of co-creation, where youth and emerging professionals share agency in how the art form is presented, mediated and discussed. This article has two related aims. First, it examines how OOO2’s digital-first Audience Engagement Strategy (AES) may contribute to audience development among 18–25-year-olds, focusing on reach, participation patterns and perceived accessibility. Second, it investigates how participation in the project appears to affect conservatory students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy and their understanding of their potential social role as musicians. Methodologically, the study combines a participatory action research (PAR) framework with an embedded single-case design. Quantitative data include pre- and post-intervention questionnaires with 132 higher music education students. An audience survey completed by 1256 spectators, complemented by social media and web analytics, is also embedded. Qualitative material derives from semi-structured interviews (n = 30), focus groups with project stakeholders and direct observation of workshops, rehearsals and performances. Results indicate a marked digital reach among younger audience and suggest that shorter formats, informal settings and second-screen mediation can lower perceived barriers to opera attendance for first-time or occasional spectators. Among students, mean scores for entrepreneurial self-efficacy increased from 3.2 (SD = 0.8) to 4.1 (SD = 0.7), corresponding to a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.20, p < 0.01), a pattern broadly consistent with research on self-efficacy and capacity creation in music and arts-based entrepreneurship education. The discussion connects these findings with a bibliometric mapping of audience development in opera, conducted on 147 Scopus-indexed documents, and argues that OOO2 occupies a still under-theorized intersection between youth-centred cultural participation and entrepreneurial capacity-building in higher music education. While the single-case design and the use of self-constructed survey items limit generalizability, the project may offer a useful reference point for institutions seeking to rethink opera’s approach as a digitally mediated, socially engaged and educationally meaningful practice. Full article

This study systematically reviews 129 peer-reviewed empirical studies examining tourism and hospitality (T&H) students’ perceptions of their employment prospects and future career paths. A systematic review was conducted using the RePEc database, which provides comprehensive coverage of economics, tourism, and hospitality research, ensuring broad and interdisciplinary representation of relevant studies. By synthesizing evidence across three decades, the review identifies persistent and emerging themes shaping students’ career outlooks. Negative perceptions, particularly regarding pay, working hours, job security, and career progression, remain the most frequently reported concerns and are strongly associated with employment anxiety. At the same time, the analysis highlights a significant rise in entrepreneurial intentions after 2015, reflecting students’ growing preference for autonomy and innovation. Internships and real-world experiences consistently emerge as pivotal in shaping perceptions, either reinforcing commitment to the sector or exposing mismatches between expectations and workplace realities. The review further underscores the influence of cultural, social, and personal factors, including family background, gender norms, and self-efficacy, in shaping career decisions. This study contributes by offering a comprehensive thematic synthesis, identifying patterns and transitions over time, and outlining research gaps. The findings provide actionable insights for educators, industry practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen career pathways and ensure the long-term sustainability of the T&H workforce. Full article

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies and information technology (IT) systems in entrepreneurship education has accelerated alongside the digital transformation of higher education. With a particular focus on gender-related disparities, this study examines how digital business modeling tools influence students’ entrepreneurial intentions. It conceptualizes digital tools along a continuum, ranging from non-AI solutions to AI-embedded and fully AI-driven systems. Data from 440 students taking part in entrepreneurial workshops using the AI-enabled digital tool KABADA served as the basis for empirical investigation. Changes in entrepreneurial intention and its key antecedents—attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—are examined by comparing the pre-workshop and post-workshop groups using structural equation modeling. According to the findings, the KABADA workshop has a statistically significant positive indirect effect on entrepreneurial intention, which is mainly mediated by perceived behavioral control. Significant gender differences are revealed by multi-group analysis: for female students, the main factor influencing entrepreneurial intention is perceived behavioral control, while for male students, the main factor is attitude toward entrepreneurship. These results emphasize the significance of IT systems that integrate guided user engagement with AI-based analytics to improve entrepreneurial self-efficacy, especially among women. Full article

Psychological capital (PsyCap), encompassing hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, has established itself as a key psychological resource for individuals. However, research in this field remains fragmented, which limits a comprehensive understanding of its role in the psychological mechanisms underlying entrepreneurial behavior, particularly in terms of motivation, coping with stress, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. This study aims to examine and organize the intellectual landscape of PsyCap. A scoping review of 215 articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science over nearly two decades was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, using a co-thematic analysis based on text mining techniques. The results reveal a three-phase evolution of the field (emergence, growth, and maturity), built around individual functioning, entrepreneurial cognitions and attitudes, and psychosocial resources. The analysis also highlights unequal access to and use of PsyCap across contexts, as well as differences related to the specific characteristics of the populations studied, shedding light on underexplored groups such as women, refugees, rural and social entrepreneurs, migrants, and entrepreneurs with disabilities. These findings contribute to advancing knowledge in entrepreneurial psychology and offer a detailed analysis of future research avenues, including emerging research questions, methodological approaches, and theoretical interdisciplinary perspectives. Full article

This study examines the interplay among ICT skills, perceptions of employability, and entrepreneurial intention among university students, focusing on how generic and scarce ICT competencies influence their confidence in employment opportunities and their inclination toward entrepreneurial intentions. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the study explores how digital competencies shape entrepreneurial attitudes, perceived feasibility, and behavioural readiness. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected using a convenience sampling method from 117 university students enrolled in ICT-related programmes. A reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and chi-square tests were used to examine the relationships among ICT skills, employability perceptions, and entrepreneurial constructs. Findings reveal that students possess strong generic ICT skills and high self-efficacy, suggesting confidence in their general capabilities and labour market readiness. However, scarce ICT skills were found to be unevenly distributed across departments and campuses, indicating disparities in access to advanced technical training. Regression results show that both generic ICT skills (β = 0.27, p < 0.01) and scarce ICT skills (β = 0.34, p < 0.001) significantly predict employability (R² = 0.29), while generic (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and scarce ICT skills (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) significantly influence perceived feasibility (R² = 0.41). Furthermore, employability (β = 0.31, p < 0.01) and perceived feasibility (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) significantly predict entrepreneurial intention (R² = 0.27). The results also show strong entrepreneurial desirability among students, yet perceived feasibility remains comparatively low, highlighting a gap between entrepreneurial aspiration and perceived capability. Importantly, advanced ICT competencies strengthen students’ confidence in their ability to pursue entrepreneurial activities. The study concludes that strengthening scarce ICT competencies, experiential entrepreneurship education, and industry collaboration within higher education institutions is essential for enhancing graduate employability and entrepreneurial potential in South Africa. Full article

Entrepreneurship education has been promoted as a pathway for strengthening entrepreneurial orientation among university students; however, uncertainty remains regarding the mechanisms through which it influences entrepreneurial intention, particularly in emerging economies. This study examines whether entrepreneurship education influences the entrepreneurial intention of university students in Honduras indirectly through entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial motivation. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and explanatory study was conducted with a sample of 431 university students. Data were collected using a structured 56-item questionnaire with a seven-point Likert scale. The analysis was carried out through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using the WLSMV estimator. The results show that entrepreneurship education positively influences all dimensions of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial motivation included in the model. Personal attitude emerged as the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial intention, followed by subjective norms and specific dimensions of self-efficacy related to business planning and management and entrepreneurial leadership. In contrast, the innovation and problem-solving dimension did not show a significant direct effect on entrepreneurial intention, while perceived behavioral control showed a marginal effect. The parsimonious model explained 75.9% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention. Overall, the findings suggest that entrepreneurship education exerts its influence primarily through indirect pathways by strengthening capability beliefs and motivational appraisals that are proximal to action. Full article

This study analysed the role of risk perception and business self-efficacy feeling through entrepreneurial education acquired by higher specialised studies on the emergence of entrepreneurial intentions. The quantitative research method included a questionnaire measured on a Likert scale, which was used to collect data from high school and university students from educational institutions with an economic profile in Romania. The evaluation of the model proposed in this study and the testing of the hypotheses postulated was performed through structural equation modelling (SEM). Our findings indicated that the role of risk perception and the self-efficacy feeling acquired through entrepreneurial education have a direct positive and statistically significant impact on entrepreneurial intentions. In the context of the growing relevance of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship, this study aims to examine how entrepreneurship education fosters sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among young people. Thus, the importance of entrepreneurial education (EE) on entrepreneurial intentions among high school and university students in Romania was confirmed. This study is to investigate how entrepreneurship education encourages sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intents among young people in light of the growing significance of sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. Full article

This study investigates effective strategies for fostering entrepreneurship within Vietnamese universities. Grounded in social cognitive theory, it develops and tests a moderated mediation model to explain how peer groups, educational support, and entrepreneurial attitude interact in shaping entrepreneurial self-efficacy, ultimately influencing entrepreneurial intentions. Using a 7-point Likert scale, a two-wave survey yielded 427 responses from university students in Vietnam. The hypotheses were tested using OLS regression and a bootstrapping approach. The findings offer three key insights. First, peer groups exert a stronger influence on students’ entrepreneurial intentions than educational support. Second, entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationships between peer groups, educational support, and entrepreneurial intentions. Finally, entrepreneurial attitude positively moderates these mediation pathways, strengthening the effects of peer groups and educational support on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and, in turn, on entrepreneurial intentions. Full article