Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Intentions of Faculty Students

  • Radmila Bjekić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia
  • Maja Strugar Jelača University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia
  • Nemanja Berber University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia
  • Marko Aleksić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia

Abstract

 Research Question: The authors of the article investigate if there is a relationship between the psychological characteristics of students at the Faculty of Economics and their entrepreneurial intentions. Motivation: Based on the study results of Littunen (2000), Walter et al. (2013) and Popescu et al. (2016), the authors planned to identify the factors which would predominately influence the students' entrepreneurial intentions. Idea: The authors believe that the psychological characteristics, such as the greater need for achievement and the need for independence can be treated as important psychological indicators for the students’ predicted entrepreneurial success in the future. Furthermore, these characteristics are significant but not sufficient, therefore the introduction of formal entrepreneurial education at university is likely to additionally contribute to raising the students’ entrepreneurial spirit. Data: The research was conducted during the academic year of 2016/17 on a sample of 517 students in their third and fourth years of studies at the Faculty of Economics. The survey questionnaire adopted already established scales on students’ entrepreneurial intentions as created and carried out by Walter, Parboteeah and Walter (2013). Tools: The PLS analysis was used for exploring relations between psychological characteristics (Need for Achievement and Need for Independence) and entrepreneurial intentions. For that purpose, the authors used Smart PLS 3 software.  Findings: The results show that psychological characteristics are significantly related to students’ entrepreneurial intentions, i.e., the students who have a greater need for achievement and independence, also have stronger entrepreneurial intentions in comparison with those who do not have those needs. Contribution: The paper contributes to the literature by empirically testing how certain factors affect the entrepreneurial intentions of university students of economics.

Author Biographies

Radmila Bjekić, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia

Radmila Bjekić is a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia. She is an assistant for the scientific area of Management and student of doctoral studies at the Department of Business Economy and Management – module Entrepreneurial Management at the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad. She conducts practical training at the courses of Organizational Theory and Organizational Design (undergraduate studies). She is the author and coauthor of scientific and professional papers in the fields of human resource management and organizational design that are presented at national and international scientific meetings or published in national and international journals.

Maja Strugar Jelača, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia

Maja Strugar Jelača is an Assistant professor at the Department of Management, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad. She teaches courses such as Strategic Management, Management innovation and Management and development at both under and postgraduate levels. Her research primarily aims at: measuring innovative activities in management practice, as well as analyzing different leadership styles to understand what drives the entrepreneurship orientation and innovative success of large organizations. She is the author and co-author of different scientific and professional papers published in national and international research journals.

Nemanja Berber, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia

Nemanja Berber is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, the University of Novi Sad, the Republic of Serbia. He works in the areas of human resource management, organisational behaviour, urban management, and environmental management. His research interests include human resource management practice in Serbia and Central and Eastern European regions, especially employees’ compensation, benefits, and training. He participates in CRANET (The Cranfield Network on International Human Resource Management) and CEEIRT (The Central and Eastern European International Research Team) projects on HRM and IHRM.

Marko Aleksić, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Economics in Subotica, Serbia

Marko Aleksić is a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia. He is an assistant for the scientific area of Management and student of doctoral studies at the Department of Business Economy and Management – module Entrepreneurial Management at the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad.  In addition, he is the author and coauthor of numerous scientific and professional papers in the fields of management and ecological economics.

Published
2021-09-03
How to Cite
Bjekić, R., Strugar Jelača, M., Berber, N., & Aleksić, M. (2021). Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Intentions of Faculty Students. Management:Journal Of Sustainable Business And Management Solutions In Emerging Economies, 26(2), 1-14. doi:10.7595/management.fon.2020.0024
Section
Articles