Gender Gap in Entrepreneurial Intention, Reasoning, Self-Efficacy, and Education Preferences Among University Students: an Entrepreneurial Event Theory Perspective

Main Article Content

Ivan Paunovic
Jennifer Musial

Abstract

This study presents a gender-focused perspective of entrepreneurship education programs, aiming to understand variations in entrepreneurial intention, reasoning on entrepreneurship, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial education preferences. The present research grounds on Entrepreneurial Event Theory to examine entrepreneurial intention, desirability, and feasibility in the context of entrepreneurship education. The research was conducted in Germany in 2021 and included a sample of 156 university students. The study deploys the Mann-Whitney U Test to examine gender differences among university students regarding entrepreneurship. The findings highlight a heightened perception of risk among female students, influencing their focus on positive/negative entrepreneurial events compared to male students.  Moreover, the research reveals a greater inclination among females to engage in both curricular and extracurricular entrepreneurship education activities, corroborating previous studies suggesting greater benefits for female students in such programs. The study also underscores the importance of distinguishing between curricular and extracurricular offerings, indicating promising avenues for future entrepreneurship education research. Overall, this investigation contributes new insights and explanations regarding gender dynamics in entrepreneurship education, shedding light on potential areas for further exploration in the field.

Article Details

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Author Biographies

Ivan Paunovic, Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

Ivan Paunović (ivan.paunovic@h-brs.de) is a postdoctoral researcher at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and SMEs (CENTIM). He is dealing with a wide range of topics in entrepreneurship and innovation, with a specific focus on tourism and wine industries. He is a member of VHB and AIEST, and has published in reputable business journals like International Journal of Wine Business Research, Journal of Family Business Management and British Food Journal.

Jennifer Musial, University Duisburg-Essen, Chair for Marketing, Mercator School of Management, Campus Duisburg

Jennifer Musial (jennifer.musial@uni-due.de) is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Chair of Marketing of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Her research focusses on cognitive dimensions of consumer decision-making, with a particular emphasis on the choice overload within consumer choices.

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