The effect of entrepreneurship education on nascent entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial intentions: The mediating effect of individual motivations

BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intentions and individual motivations and the mediation of individual motivations in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions. METHODS: We tested 374 questionnaire samples using quantitative research methods. We used PLS-SEM and mediation analyses to analyze the data. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: First, the findings show that entrepreneurship education positively affects individual motivations of entrepreneurial intentions, personal attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and need for achievement. Second, subjective norms and the need for achievement did not impact entrepreneurial intentions compared to personal attitudes and perceived behavior. Finally, we found that while personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control mediated the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions, subjective norms and the need for achievement had no effect. The study contributes to the literature and provides policy and managerial implications for macro and micro factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions in transition economies.