Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship Intention Among Malaysian TVET Students: Integrating Entrepreneurial Exposure, Social Media Engagement and Entrepreneurial Traits

The increasing demand for future-ready graduates in the era of digitalisation, sustainability transitions and global economic uncertainty has highlighted the importance of integrating entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). In Malaysia, TVET institutions play a crucial role in developing technically competent graduates who are socially responsible, environmentally conscious and entrepreneurial. However, many TVET graduates continue to face challenges related to employability, innovation readiness, and adaptability in addressing emerging social and environmental issues. Therefore, this study examines the influence of entrepreneurial exposure and social media engagement on sustainable social entrepreneurship intention among Malaysian TVET students, with entrepreneurial traits functioning as mediating variables. This study adopted a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design involving 159 students from Malaysian polytechnics and community colleges selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and mediation analysis using the SPSS were employed to examine the proposed relationships among variables. The findings revealed that entrepreneurial exposure and social media engagement significantly influence sustainable social entrepreneurship intention among TVET students. Entrepreneurial traits comprising creativity, opportunity recognition, resilience, and adaptability were also found to significantly mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial exposure, social media engagement, and sustainable social entrepreneurship intention. Among these traits, opportunity recognition demonstrated the strongest influence on entrepreneurial intention. The study supports the integration of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Cognitive Theory in explaining sustainable entrepreneurial intention among TVET students. The findings highlight the importance of developing sustainable TVET ecosystems that integrate entrepreneurship education, social innovation, digital engagement, and environmental sustainability in preparing future-ready graduates for sustainable national development.

TVET; Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Intention; Entrepreneurial Exposure; Social Media Engagement; Entrepreneurial Traits; Sustainability Education

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