Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project aims to investigate the role of locus of control in influencing the start-up intention of higher institution students. Locus of control refers to an individual's belief regarding the control they have over their own lives. In the context of entrepreneurship, locus of control can play a significant role in shaping individuals' intentions to start their own businesses. The study will involve collecting data from a sample of higher institution students using a structured questionnaire that includes measures of locus of control and start-up intention. The questionnaire will also include demographic questions to control for potential confounding variables such as age, gender, and academic major. The data collected will be analyzed using statistical techniques such as regression analysis to assess the relationship between locus of control and start-up intention. It is hypothesized that students with a higher internal locus of control, who believe they have control over their own success, will be more likely to express an intention to start their own businesses compared to students with a more external locus of control. Understanding the role of locus of control in influencing start-up intention among higher institution students is important for several reasons. First, it can provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to promote entrepreneurship among students. By understanding the psychological factors that influence entrepreneurial intentions, educators can tailor their programs to better support students interested in starting their own businesses. Second, the findings of this study can also have practical implications for career counselors and advisors working with higher institution students. By identifying students with high internal locus of control, these professionals can provide targeted support and resources to help them pursue their entrepreneurial goals. Overall, this research project seeks to contribute to the existing literature on entrepreneurship and psychological factors influencing start-up intentions. By focusing on the role of locus of control among higher institution students, this study aims to shed light on an important but relatively understudied aspect of entrepreneurial behavior.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The educational system is a key area where it is possible to intervene and present entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to dependent employment. The support for this view comes from a widely literature review of enterprise, entrepreneurship and business creation. The idea is also present in the European Union recommendations. (see Action plan to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness – Best action plan and green paper on entrepreneurship) which refers to the promotion of entrepreneurship through the education system from primary school to university as a main goal.

Recent literature review evaluates or measure the impact of general education on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity suggests some possible generalizations. Evidence suggesting a positive link between education and entrepreneurship is robust. “it is becoming clear that entrepreneurship or certain facet on it can be taught”. Most of the imperical studies indicate that entrepreneurship can be taught, at least encouraged by entrepreneurship education. In addition, the entrepreneurship role can be culturally and experimentally acquired and therefore influenced by education and training. Thus the present educational system should encourage the concept of an enterprise culture.

Works advance the idea that formal entrepreneurship education affects the attitudes of students, influencing them in the direction of future career and affect their propensity for entrepreneurship when they become adults. In this sense, the pedagogical approach should encourage children to make decisions and accept mistakes as part of their learning process, underline the importance to develop a common framework to evaluate, compare and improve the design of educational programs of entrepreneurship. It is important to create the right entrepreneurship environment at the educational institution. Entrepreneurial activities should be integrated into the programmes of the institution from an early stage and need to be supported by school culture. Thus, in entrepreneurship education literature, primary, secondary and tertiary schools have received growing attention and enterprise education programmes in tertiary schools were confirmed to be important for later entrepreneurial intentions. It is believed that the ideal stage to acquire basic knowledge about entrepreneurship and to foster a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship is during childhood and adolescence years.

The knowledge of student’s entrepreneurial characteristics that have more impact on entrepreneurial intentions can be an important contribution for the development of adequate educational programmes related with entrepreneurship and business creation.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

It is not an over statement stating that no business start up can strive successfully with out its own teething problems, an so this work enumerated some of the problems which are paramount to start up intention among the students of higher institutions

What is the entrepreneurial intention of students of higher institution?
What is the effect of locus of control on the start up intention?