Evaluating the Role of Entrepreneurship Education in the Development of Entrepreneurial Mindsets of Iranian Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nematollah Shiri 1
Mojgan Khoshmaram 2
Hossein Mehdizadeh 1
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.
2 Lecturer, Department of Entrepreneurship, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.
10.61838/KMAN.IRPHE.30.2.2
Abstract
Although few studies have been conducted regarding the entrepreneurial mindset of students in the higher education system, most of them have tried to explain the entrepreneurial mindset of students based on the approach of entrepreneurial traits. Considering that the results of these studies are weak and unreliable for predicting entrepreneurial mindset, Therefore, in the present study, using the cognitive approach to evaluate the role of (formal-informal) entrepreneurial education in the development of entrepreneurial mindsets among the students of the Iranian higher education system. The statistical population of the research included all students of the Iranian higher education system, 436 of whom were selected for the study. The research tool was a standard questionnaire whose validity was checked by a group of experts and its construct validity and reliability were checked by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability. The findings of the research showed that the state of entrepreneurial elaborating and implementing mindsets of the respondents was not at a favorable level. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the latent variable of non-formal entrepreneurship education had a positive and significant effect on the entrepreneurial elaborating and implementing mindsets of Iranian students. Also, the positive and significant effect of the latent variable of formal entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial elaborating mindset was confirmed, but its significant effect on the entrepreneurial implementing mindset of students in Iran's higher education system was not supported. According to the results of the research, it is recommended to the planners and policymakers of the higher education system to plan and implement extracurricular entrepreneurship courses in the country's higher education system. Also, in compulsory and optional entrepreneurship curricula in universities and higher education institutions, they pay more attention to practical issues and provide real and suitable conditions - such as holding start-up events - for students to gain experience and entrepreneurship.

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  • Receive Date 29 September 2023
  • Revise Date 14 January 2024
  • Accept Date 29 January 2024
  • Publish Date 21 June 2024