Entrepreneurial orientation and agropreneurial intention among malaysian agricultural students: the impact of agropreneurship education
Asliza Yusoff
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
asliza.uz@gmail.com
Noor Hazlina Ahmad
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
hazlina@usm.my
Hasliza Abdul Halim
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
haslizahalim@usm.my
Abstract
Entrepreneurship education has been acknowledged to have a significant role in promoting entrepreneurial intentions and assisting further development of enterprising citizens. Thus, agropreneurship education can contribute towards increasing entrepreneurial orientation and enhancing the intentions to become agropreneurs. This study therefore seeks to investigate the impact of agropreneurship education on entrepreneurial orientation and intentions of Malaysian agricultural students. Data gathered was analysed using partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results provide evidence that that agropreneurship education supplied by local higher educational institutions is sufficient in contributing to the development of students’ entrepreneurial skills and intentions. The results also indicated that agricultural graduates’ intention to become agropreneurs is substantially influenced by proactive orientation and agropreneurship education. Given the substantial role played by agropreneurship education in promoting entrepreneurial skills and intentions, it is desirable to revamp the educational system to encourage students to become more entrepreneurially oriented. Practically and managerially, the findings contribute to the educational providers in terms of helping them to design a well-directed course curricular that may promote the development of agropreneurial skills and competencies among agricultural graduates.
Keywords: agropreneurship education; agropreneurship intention; agricultural students; risk-taking; innovativeness, proactiveness; developing country