Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial career option: the role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, perceived desirability and supportive environment

The study was designed to explore the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and perceived desirability (PDE), and the moderating role of supportive environment (SEN) on the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge (EEK), entrepreneurial skills (EES) and entrepreneurial career options (ECO) among university students in Nigeria. Using structured survey questionnaires, the data of the study were collected from final year students across six universities in Northern Nigeria during the 2015/2016 academic session. The study used the structural equation modelling Smart-PLS (2.0) to analyze the data obtained from a sample of 395 respondents, and to test the hypotheses. The results established a significant positive association between EEK and the students’ entrepreneurial career options. However, the study found no significant association between EES and the students’ entrepreneurial career options. In addition, the study established that ESE and PDE significantly mediate the association between EEK, EES and the students’ entrepreneurial career options. Furthermore, the study established that supportive environment significantly moderates the association between EEK and the students’ entrepreneurial career options. On the contrary, the study established that supportive environment does not have a significant moderating effect on the association between EES, ESE, PDE and ECO. The results of the study provide important insights to academic institutions, educators, policy-makers and other stakeholders to further comprehend the influences of EEK, EES, ESE, PDE on students’ entrepreneurial career options. The study recommended, among others, that policy-makers should create an enabling supportive environment that encourages students’ entrepreneurial career options. Finally, limitations of the study and suggestions for future research were discussed