Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention of Undergraduates in Sri Lankan Government Universities

Abstract

The aim of this research is to find out the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurs play a major role in Sri Lanka’s economic development. As Sri Lanka does not have enough entrepreneurs to fuel the economy and less than 5% of graduate entrepreneurs can be found in Sri Lanka. It is important to produce entrepreneurs through university education to take advantage of the education and to have contribution to the economy of Sri Lanka. A person to become an entrepreneur the entrepreneurial intention is very important. Previous studies on entrepreneurship education had found that the entrepreneurship education has positive impact on entrepreneurial intention. In conducting the present study, the quantitative research approach was followed, and the data was collected through a questionnaire. The sample of 151 entrepreneurship undergraduates in government universities have responded to the survey. The sample was selected using the stratified random sampling technique and the multiple regression analysis was used to measure the hypothesized relationship between the constructs. The results of the study confirmed the proposed hypothesis, and it was proved that the entrepreneurship education has positive impact on entrepreneurial intention and the attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention. The outcomes of this research will serve as a support for government and other parties to increase entrepreneurship education in the country and make proper policies and regulations regarding the Entrepreneurship Education.