ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS OF SERBIAN STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN SHAPING THEIR ATTITUDES

Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, Niš, Republic of Serbia
Serbia

Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, Niš, Republic of Serbia
Serbia

Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, Niš, Republic of Serbia
Serbia


Abstract

Entrepreneurship among youth is an essential driving force for the development of every country, as young people are generally innovative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to explore the factors that influence their intention to become entrepreneurs in order to provide supportive preconditions. Building on this premise, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether differences in human capital among students (built upon their education and work experience) impact their intentions to become entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial intentions will be analysed following the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), upon which the key drivers of entrepreneurial intentions are attitudes toward entrepreneurship, the influence of significant individuals in one’s environment, and the perception of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. This study is based on a sample of 445 university students in Serbia. A t-test is conducted to examine differences in attitudes toward entrepreneurship between students with formal entrepreneurship education and those with informal learning experiences, as well as between students with and without prior work experience. The results contribute to a better understanding of how human capital elements shape entrepreneurial attitudes, highlighting the importance of education and practical experience in fostering entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, the study’s results could have implications for creating more tailored educational approaches that will combine theoretical knowledge with experiential learning, leading to better preparation of students for entrepreneurial careers.

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