A further step in research on university student’s entrepreneurial intention: guesss

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Research on entrepreneurial intention has experienced a remarkable development. This paper address three objectives. First, the paper presents the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student’s Survey (GUESSS), an international research project that explores university student’s entrepreneurial intention and activity. It is the first time that Spain participates in such a project. Secondly, this work shows preliminary results from GUESSS on a students’ sample of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in order to explore their career intention. Specifically, entrepreneurial intention was studied, and other aspects about the entrepreneurial activity were addressed as well. Finally, the paper empirically test the GUESSS’s theoretical model. After a descriptive data analysis and the comparison of these ones in the international area, an analysis of linear regression was performed. The results revealed that the university student’s entrepreneurial intention five years after finishing their studies is almost six time more with regard to their entrepreneurial intention immediately after completing their studies. Likewise men exhibit higher entrepreneurial intention than women. The theoretical model was partially confirmed because both the attitude of the students and the control perceived of their behaviour exercise influence in the entrepreneurial intention. The results provide implications for the teachers, the universities and the Administration in order to promote the entrepreneurial initiative in the students.