An investigation into entrepreneurial intent amongst final year commerce students at the Durban University of Technology

Abstract

This study investigated the concept of entrepreneurial intent within a South African Higher Education (HE) context using a sample of final year commerce students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The backdrop of this is within growing calls for universities to be located more within the ideal and agenda of generating future entrepreneurs for the economy. Further, arguments are made that graduates within South African Higher Education (HE) may possess the necessary theoretical knowledge but fall short concerning coming up with innovations that are responsive to the changing and diverse labour market. Entrepreneurship, thus, emerges as a possible panacea to the challenges affecting HE in South Africa. The aim of the research was to investigate factors that influence a student’s entrepreneurial intent within a South African HE context. A quantitative survey design was implemented amongst a sample of 250 respondents studying at the DUT. Correlation and regression analysis were used to test relationships between variables. The findings show a positive relationship to exist between individual risk taking propensity and variables such as a) subjective norms; b) perceived behavioural control; c) proactive personality; d) entrepreneurial education and e) student attitude towards entrepreneurial education and intentions. The findings provide a useful precursor to encouraging entrepreneurial efforts within HE in South Africa. Practitioners can use the findings of this work to come up with interventions that promote the development of an entrepreneurial culture within the South African context, especially using a vulnerable yet important cohort within the youth of the country.