EXPLORING THE SPIRITS OF THE GRADUATES TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Abstract

Having observed entrepreneurial trends globally, the entrepreneurial startups have been recommended as the dire need of the day. Policy makers, academics, economists and even students of universities are discussing about it. Business education is need have the present day so present study is an attempt to identify and describe how the method of entrepreneurial/business education that has affected the entrepreneurial intentions of the graduates. Present research focused on the influence of factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Faisalabad city. The graduate and postgraduate students of Faisalabad were the population of the current study. Thus the present study was designed and conducted in two randomly selected public universities of Faisalabad such as University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) and GC University, Faisalabad (GCUF). Random sampling technique was used for data collection. Three hundred students (150 from each university) were selected ramdomly to get the required information. An interview schedule was used for data collection. Appropriate statistical techniques were applied to analyze and interpret the data. It was found around one-third of sampled population engaged in income generating activities along with continuing their study and most of them reported that their education is most helpful for their work/business. Less than a half (43%) students wanted to start their own business after completion their education, while mostly students’ families expected to join salaried job after accomplishment of their degrees. In the light of entrepreneurial spirit of the students, it was found the most of the students wanted ‘to use technical or professional knowledge and skills’ (2.57). The prominent hindering factors towards entrepreneurial incubations reported by the respondents were corruptions in the government sector, lack of finance, negative attitude of government officials, fear of failure, lack of guidance, lack of self-motivation and lack of business orientation. Entrepreneurial education must be included in university curricula and colleges as a major subject regardless of discipline as soon as possible to cope with alarmingly rising unemployment and promote socio-economic development.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial spirit, business, student, graduates