Stimulating University Student Entrepreneurship: Evidence from an African Developing Country

Authors

  • Andrews Ayiku University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), Ghana
  • E Stephen Grant University of New Brunswick, Canada
  • Prince Kofi Mensah University of Ghana, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55482/jcim.2022.33294

Keywords:

Developing Countries, Perceived behavioral control, Entrepreneurship intention, Ghana, Student Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education at the tertiary level is gaining ground within developing economies like Ghana. But empirical studies that assess the role of universities in stimulating and consolidating entrepreneurship traits are limited in emerging economies. This study is a quantitative study that adopts the structural equation model approach to examine the effect of four constructs (Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioral Control, and the Role of University) on the Entrepreneurship Intention of university students in Ghana. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between university entrepreneurial role and student entrepreneurial intention. Also, both attitude and subjective norm had a significant positive association with student entrepreneurial intention. The relationship between perceived behavioral control and student entrepreneurial intention was a significant negative relationship. These results provide an empirical basis for leveraging universities to stimulate students’ entrepreneurial intention within developing economies such as Ghana.

Author Biographies

Andrews Ayiku, University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), Ghana

Andrews Ayiku (DBA, Swiss Management Center University) has over 16 years’ experience in public and private sectors, especially in the areas of banking, microfinance, SMEs and academia. Andrews is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK and holds a Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing-UK and a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program for Advanced Scholars at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Andrews is a Lecturer at the University of Professional Studies Accra and a Coordinator for the MBA Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Andrews is the West Africa Manager for E4Impact Foundation (Entrepreneurship for Impact). He has research/teaching and professional experience in Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Italy, Pakistan, Senegal, and Canada.

E Stephen Grant, University of New Brunswick, Canada

E Stephen Grant (PhD, University of Memphis) is a Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. His research interests include sales management, customer satisfaction, service quality, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Grant’s work has appeared in several recognized journals such as the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, and the Journal of Comparative International Management. He has also co-authored three textbooks with leading publishers such as Person Education and McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited.

Prince Kofi Mensah, University of Ghana, Ghana

Prince Kofi Mensah (MSc-Development Finance, University of Ghana) has over 10 years’ experience in the private sector with focus on entrepreneurship, business development, research, SMEs, and academia. He is the Director of Business and Research at AAMG Business Solutions Ghana, the course facilitator and research consultant at Skill Central Ghana, a Research Consultant at New York University-Centre for Technology and Economic Development Ghana, and a Project Consultant at the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana. He has practical experience in both quantitative and qualitative research.

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Published

2022-12-28

How to Cite

Ayiku, A., Grant, E. S., & Mensah, P. K. (2022). Stimulating University Student Entrepreneurship: Evidence from an African Developing Country. Journal of Comparative International Management, 25(2), 221–245. https://doi.org/10.55482/jcim.2022.33294

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Research Articles