Entrepreneurial intentions of students in a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: The entrepreneurial intentions of students in different faculties of a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa are not known and are not measured.

Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the entrepreneurial intentions of students in a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa. This study was based on two objectives, namely, to determine the entrepreneurial intention of students in four different faculties in a historically disadvantaged South African university and to assess if significant differences exist between entrepreneurial intentions of students in the four different faculties of a historically disadvantaged South African university.

Motivation for the study: Graduate unemployment is on the rise in South Africa. Furthermore, the entrepreneurial intentions of students across faculties in historically disadvantaged institutions are underexplored and needs further testing. This study aims to assess the entrepreneurial intentions of students in a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa.

Research design, approach and method: Quantitative research was utilised and 377 students from a historically disadvantaged South African university were surveyed. Simple random sampling technique was utilised in the study. Reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Mean, standard deviation and Chi-square test were utilised in the data analysis.

Main findings: The findings revealed that significant differences exist between the entrepreneurial intentions of students in the four different faculties (health sciences, management and law, humanities as well as science and agriculture). The study also found that the students in the Faculty of Management and Law have a high entrepreneurial intentions. The study focused on one historically disadvantaged university in South Africa; therefore, the findings of this study should be interpreted cautiously for other universities in South Africa. Future research can be replicated in other South African universities.

Practical/managerial implications: The findings of this study have implications to policy-makers in higher education and lecturers in South Africa universities. This study recommends entrepreneurial education courses for all students in the universities and policy decisions that allow students to start businesses. This is expected to promote entrepreneurship, employment and economic development in South Africa.

Contribution/value-add: The novelty of this study is the contribution to the body of knowledge on entrepreneurial intentions of university students across faculties in South Africa. In addition, studies on entrepreneurial intentions of students from historically disadvantaged universities are underexplored. The study provides useful recommendations on entrepreneurial intention of South African students from a historically disadvantaged university.