Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intention among Management Undergraduates in University of Ruhuna

Abstract

The majority of university undergraduates prefer to gain employment rather than initiating their own new ventures. The research aims to identify undergraduates'entrepreneurial intention to start a new venture by exploring what determinants affect the decision to go towards self-employment. In this study, the researcher examined the impact of perceived educational support, perceived relational support, perceived structural support, personal attitude, and perceived behavioral control with the entrepreneurial intention of the management undergraduates in University of Ruhuna. A well – structured questionnaire was used to gather the majority of secondary data, and the sample comprised 130 undergraduates, who study in the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna. Multiple regression analysis and ANOVA test analysis were used to identify the impact on entrepreneurial intention. The findings of the research indicated that personal attitude and perceived behavioral control have a significant impact on the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduates in the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna. The study specialization area is the only demographic element taken into consideration that differs among the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduates. Based on the results, the university can promote entrepreneurship and business plan competitions, offer incubation opportunities, and provide practical implication and training programs to create positive attitudes and behaviours towards entrepreneurial activities. Government and non-government organizations can facilitate a positive entrepreneurial environment by providing business assistance to enhance the entrepreneurial intention of students.