Title: Entrepreneurial intentions of information technology students: the theory of planned behaviour, the role of gender and education

Authors: Ioannis Sitaridis; Fotis Kitsios

Addresses: University of Macedonia, 156 Egnatia Street, GR-546 36, Thessalonki, Greece ' University of Macedonia, 156 Egnatia Street, GR-546 36, Thessalonki, Greece

Abstract: Entrepreneurial activity and self-employment is considered a major motor of innovation, and economic development. Entrepreneurial intention, introduced in the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), is considered a major predictor of actual entrepreneurial career. Statistical regression analysis was used for the empirical examination of the entrepreneurial intentions of information technology (IT) students, in order to identify possible points of intervention, in the direction of fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. The contribution of the TPB antecedents was evaluated, along with the effect of gender and entrepreneurial course. Personal attitudes and perceived behavioural control proved to play a vital role in entrepreneurial intentions, whereas social norm had no significant effect. Female students showed reduced intentions towards entrepreneurship, in comparison to their male counterparts. Finally the role of entrepreneurship course attendance was not significant. These findings have considerable implications for educators, curriculum designers and policy makers.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial intention; theory of planned behaviour; TPB; entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurship course; information technology; students; gender.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2017.085508

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2017 Vol.10 No.3, pp.316 - 335

Received: 25 Aug 2016
Accepted: 25 Nov 2016
Published online: 28 Jul 2017 *

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