A Conceptual Framework of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intention among University Students: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

Sustainable entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention as a means of addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development. In this context, understanding university students’ Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intention is important, as intention represents an important precursor to future entrepreneurial behaviour. This conceptual study aims to develop an extended framework to explain Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intention among university students in Malaysia. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the proposed framework incorporates Attitude and Subjective Norms as core determinants of intention and extends the theory by incorporating Self-Efficacy and Sustainability Orientation. The inclusion of Self-Efficacy reflects the importance of students’ confidence in their ability to engage in entrepreneurial activities, while Sustainability Orientation captures their inclination to consider sustainability-related concerns in entrepreneurial decision-making. The conceptual framework is developed through the synthesis of relevant theoretical perspectives and previous empirical studies on sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. The proposed framework suggests that Attitude, Subjective Norms, Self-Efficacy, and Sustainability Orientation may contribute to the formation of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intention among university students. The study contributes theoretically by extending the TPB framework to incorporate individual capability and sustainability-oriented considerations within the context of sustainable entrepreneurship. Practically, the framework provides a basis for higher education institutions to develop educational and experiential initiatives that can foster students’ intention to pursue sustainable entrepreneurial activities. Future empirical research is recommended to validate the proposed relationships among university students in Malaysian higher education institutions.

Entrepreneurship

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