INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND STUDENTS’ ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SELF EFFICACY AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.

Abstract

Many students in Uganda do not embrace entrepreneurship upon graduation. This study went out to investigate the extent to which this problem is explained by the relationship between students’ entrepreneurial orientation (EO) specifically risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness and how these three dimensions affect their entrepreneurial intentions (EI). The study also investigated the extent to which self-efficacy or Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) moderates the relationship between EO and EI, in an attempt to throw more light on the above problem. This study was mainly based on the Theory of Planned Behavior using a cross-sectional research design and a convenience sample of undergraduates from Uganda Christian University (N= 200). Data analysis was done by regression and moderation analysis. The findings showed that although the relationship between EO and EI is positive in all cases, it is very low. Furthermore, PBC only significantly and positively moderates the relationship between risk-taking and EI, but not innovativeness and proactiveness. These finding mean that the low uptake of entrepreneurship upon graduation can be explained by their low level of entrepreneurial orientation and self efficacy. These findings re-enforce the fact that the students are not very entrepreneurial. This research suggests that there is need to boost the EO of these students before they finalize their studies and leave the university. Such a strategy will possibly make them consider entrepreneurship as a viable career path upon graduation.