Exploring The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education: A Study on Entrepreneurial Intentions in Turkish Universities

Year 2023, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 74 - 88, 31.12.2023

Munther Bulad Meral Dülger Taşkın

https://doi.org/10.25203/idd.1350398

Abstract

Objectives: Entrepreneurship education serves as a key driver within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, equipping individuals with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to fuel job creation and economic expansion. Recognizing this vital role, this study aims to delve into the intricate relationship between entrepreneurship education and the cultivation of entrepreneurial intentions within the context of Turkish universities. Specifically, it focuses on the distinct yet interrelated functions of lecturers, course content, and university policies in shaping students' aspirations for entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach: The foundation of this study is rooted in Resource-Based Theory, which emphasizes the pivotal significance of resources, skills, and capabilities in fostering competitive advantage. Building upon this theoretical framework, this study takes on human capital as a resource and adopts a quantitative approach to unravel the multifaceted dynamics between entrepreneurship education and students' entrepreneurial intentions. An extensive online survey is conducted among a diverse group of students from various Turkish universities. Hierarchical regression analysis is employed to unveil the individual roles of lecturers, course content, and university policies in nurturing students' entrepreneurial intentions.

Results: Empirical evidence highlights the substantial influence of entrepreneurship education on students' entrepreneurial intentions. The outcomes indicate the significance of entrepreneurship lecturers, course content, and university policies as influential determinants of entrepreneurial intentions. Notably, among these factors, the influence of university policies emerges as the utmost driving force behind entrepreneurial intentions. This finding underscores the pivotal role of well-designed institutional policies in fostering an environment conducive to effective entrepreneurship education and subsequently nurturing and cultivating entrepreneurial intentions.

Practical implications: This study provides practical insights for institutions and policymakers, urging institutions to craft strategies to foster an atmosphere that drives students toward entrepreneurial activities. By understanding how entrepreneurship education, particularly concerning lecturers, content, and policies, influences entrepreneurial intentions, institutions can tailor their curricula and support systems to not only promote entrepreneurship but also foster a culture of entrepreneurial intent.

Originality/value: This study pushes the boundaries of existing knowledge by illuminating the relatively unexplored yet crucially important crossroads of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions with respect to Turkish universities. Moreover, the study adds an important perspective by focusing on analyzing the viewpoint of students, an area that has been relatively under-researched. This endeavor recognizes students as the primary beneficiaries of entrepreneurial education and consequently, a deeper exploration of their experiences and perceptions holds immense promise for enriching our understanding of the educational process's impact. By investigating the roles of lecturers, course content, and university policies, this research unravels the intricate mechanisms through which entrepreneurship education molds entrepreneurial intentions. Notably, given the limited scope of prior research on the influence of policies in Turkish universities, the distinct emphasis placed on policy impact in this study stands out as a noteworthy contribution.

Keywords

entrepreneurial intentions, entrepreneurship education, lecturer role, course content, policies

Thanks

This paper is built upon the literature review, interpretations of, and employs the dataset from Munther Bulad’s Master’s Thesis titled “The Effects of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions: Exploring Turkish Universities” (Marmara University, 2023).

Girişimcilik Eğitiminin Etkisinin Keşfi: Türk Üniversitelerinde Girişimcilik Niyetleri Üzerine bir Araştırma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, girişimcilik eğitimi ile girişimcilik niyetlerinin arasındaki ilişkiyi Türk üniversiteleri bağlamında öğretim elemanlarının, ders içeriğinin ve üniversite politikalarının farklı ancak birbiriyle ilişkili işlevlerini incelemeyi hedeflemektedir.

Tasarım/Yöntem: Kaynak Tabanlı Teori kapsamında, bu çalışma nitel bir yaklaşım benimsemektedir. Türkiye'nin çeşitli üniversitelerine devam eden öğrencilerden oluşan bir örneklemden çevrimiçi anket aracılığıyla veri toplanmıştır. Öğrencilerin girişimcilik niyetlerini üzerinde öğretim elemanlarının, ders içeriğinin ve üniversite politikalarının bireysel rollerini ortaya çıkarmak için hiyerarşik regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır.

Sonuçlar: Ampirik kanıtlar, girişimcilik eğitmenlerinin, ders içeriğinin ve üniversite politikalarının girişimcilik niyetlerinin üzerinde etkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu faktörler arasında üniversite politikalarının etkisi, girişimcilik niyetlerinin ardındaki en büyük itici güç olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır.

Uygulama Çıkarımları: Kurumlar, girişimcilik eğitiminin, özellikle öğretim elemanları, içerik ve politikalarla ilgili olarak girişimci niyetleri nasıl etkilediğini anlayarak öğrencileri girişimci faaliyetlere yönlendirecek bir atmosfer oluşturmaya yönelik stratejiler oluşturabilir, müfredatlarını ve destek sistemlerini girişimciliği teşvik edecek şekilde düzenleyebilirler.

Özgün Değer: Öğretim elemanlarının rollerini, ders içeriğini ve üniversite politikalarını araştıran bu araştırma, girişimcilik eğitiminin girişimci niyetleri şekillendirdiği karmaşık mekanizmaları incelemekte ve nispeten az araştırılmış bir alan olan öğrencilerin bakış açılarını analiz ederek ilgili yazına katkıda bulunmaktadır. Türk üniversitelerindeki politikaların etkisine ilişkin önceki araştırmaların sınırlı kapsamı göz önüne alındığında, bu çalışma ilgili yazını genişletmektedir.

Keywords

girişimcilik niyeti, girişimcilik eğitimi, öğretim elemanı rolü, ders içeriği, politikalar

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