A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Intentions in Public and Private Sector Universities: The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Education

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to study the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Pakistan, focusing on the moderating role of entrepreneurial education within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). It is a comparative study of the public and private sector universities, namely Quaid-e-Azam University and Iqra University, to explore how attitudes toward behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial education influence their intentions to pursue entrepreneurship. It a quantitative research study, and the data were collected through surveys questionnaire from 245 final-year students, with a response rate of 62.43%. The hypothesis testing and empirical analysis were performed by SMART PLS and SPSS data analysis software. The findings reveal that attitudes and subjective norms significantly predict entrepreneurial intentions in both institutions, aligning with the TPB. However, entrepreneurial education and perceived behavioral control do not show a direct significant impact on entrepreneurial intentions. Interestingly, the interaction between entrepreneurial education and perceived behavioral control significantly influences entrepreneurial intentions at Quaid-e-Azam University but not at Iqra University, suggesting contextual differences in how education enhances perceived control. The study concludes that while entrepreneurial education alone may not be sufficient to foster entrepreneurial intentions, it can play a crucial role when combined with other factors, particularly in public sector universities. These insights provide valuable implications for policymakers and educators aiming to promote entrepreneurship among university students in developing countries.