Unpacking the link between entrepreneurial education and intention: A moderated mediation model of self-efficacy and university entrepreneurial climate

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which Entrepreneurial Education is associated with Entrepreneurial Intention, focusing on the mediating role of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and the moderating effect of University Entrepreneurial Climate. Integrating the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Cognitive Theory, we test a moderated mediation model using a large dataset from the 2023 GUESSS Spain project. This research provides an empirical extension of the associations underlying the relationship between Entrepreneurial Education and Entrepreneurial Intention by applying a moderated mediation framework. Results show that Entrepreneurial Education is linked to higher levels of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, and that this Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy is most likely to be reflected in heightened Entrepreneurial Intention when supported by a favourable University Entrepreneurial Climate. The results underscore that a dynamic University Entrepreneurial Climate is as relevant as formal curricula for stimulating students’ intentions, with implications for managers of higher education institutions.