Abstract
Promoting entrepreneurial mindset and attitude among university students entails research exploring diverse factors that affect entrepreneurial intention, focusing on contextual factors. Contextual factors are crucial to entrepreneurship due to the interconnectedness between entrepreneurs and their environment. However, limited attention is given to understanding how context is addressed in supporting entrepreneurial competence development. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by examining the role of contextual factors, perceived as both motivators and barriers to entrepreneurship, in shaping the attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Malaysia. The study draws on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to test hypotheses about the effect of perceived external context on entrepreneurial intention. Survey data from 317 students near graduation from entrepreneurship programs was analysed using PLS-SEM. Despite having solid attitudes towards becoming entrepreneurs and positive perceptions of their ability to become entrepreneurs (perceived behavioral control, PBC), participants’ negative perception of the external context for entrepreneurship dampened their intentions to engage in entrepreneurial activities. Perceptions of contextual barriers had a powerful effect on entrepreneurial intentions because PBC had a stronger effect on intentions than attitudes. This research outcome has practical implications for policymakers and educators in designing effective entrepreneurship education programs while advancing theoretical knowledge in entrepreneurial behavior and intention formation.
