ABSTRACT
Research on entrepreneurial intention has experienced a remarkable development. This paper address three objectives. First, the paper presents the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student’s Survey (GUESSS), an international research project that explores university student’s entrepreneurial intention and activity. It is the first time that Spain participates in such a project. Secondly, this work shows preliminary results from GUESSS on a students’ sample of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in order to explore their career intention. Specifically, entrepreneurial intention was studied, and other aspects about the entrepreneurial activity were addressed as well. Finally, the paper empirically test the GUESSS’s theoretical model. After a descriptive data analysis and the comparison of these ones in the international area, an analysis of linear regression was performed. The results revealed that the university student’s entrepreneurial intention five years after finishing their studies is almost six time more with regard to their entrepreneurial intention immediately after completing their studies. Likewise men exhibit higher entrepreneurial intention than women. The theoretical model was partially confirmed because both the attitude of the students and the control perceived of their behaviour exercise influence in the entrepreneurial intention. The results provide implications for the teachers, the universities and the Administration in order to promote the entrepreneurial initiative in the students.La investigación en el estudio de la intención emprendedora ha experimentado un notable crecimiento. El trabajo se plantea un triple objetivo. En primer lugar, dar a conocer el Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student’s Survey (GUESSS), proyecto de investigación internacional que explora la intención y actividad emprendedora del estudiante universitario, en el que España participa por primera vez. En segundo lugar, presentar los resultados preliminares de GUESSS sobre una muestra de estudiantes de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria al objeto de explorar su intención en relación con la elección de su carrera laboral. De modo específico, se examina la intención de fundar su propio negocio, y se indaga en variables asociadas con la actividad emprendedora. Por último, contrastar empíricamente el modelo teórico en el que se sustenta el proyecto GUESSS. Tras un estudio descriptivo de los datos y su comparación con los observados en el ámbito internacional, se ha realizado un análisis de regresión lineal. Se observa cómo la intención emprendedora del estudiante universitario se multiplica por seis a los cinco años de haber finalizado los estudios respecto a la que presenta tras concluirlos. Este resultado también se constata a nivel internacional. Asimismo se detecta que los hombres presentan una mayor vocación emprendedora que las mujeres. El modelo teórico subyacente se confirma parcialmente, al verificarse el efecto que la actitud del estudiante hacia el emprendimiento y el control percibido de su comportamiento ejerce en la intención emprendedora. De los resultados alcanzados se derivan implicaciones para los docentes, las universidades y la Administración de cara a potenciar la iniciativa emprendedora de los estudiantes.
ABSTRACT
Research on entrepreneurial intention has experienced a remarkable development. This paper address three objectives. First, the paper presents the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student’s Survey (GUESSS), an international research project that explores university student’s entrepreneurial intention and activity. It is the first time that Spain participates in such a project. Secondly, this work shows preliminary results from GUESSS on a students’ sample of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in order to explore their career intention. Specifically, entrepreneurial intention was studied, and other aspects about the entrepreneurial activity were addressed as well. Finally, the paper empirically test the GUESSS’s theoretical model. After a descriptive data analysis and the comparison of these ones in the international area, an analysis of linear regression was performed. The results revealed that the university student’s entrepreneurial intention five years after finishing their studies is almost six time more with regard to their entrepreneurial intention immediately after completing their studies. Likewise men exhibit higher entrepreneurial intention than women. The theoretical model was partially confirmed because both the attitude of the students and the control perceived of their behaviour exercise influence in the entrepreneurial intention. The results provide implications for the teachers, the universities and the Administration in order to promote the entrepreneurial initiative in the students