Factors that drive entrepreneurial intention among students in the food industry

Abstract

This paper, through the lens of social cognitive theory (SCCT) (Lent et al., 1994), endeavours to closely examine the role of personal factors, such as internal locus of control and risk-taking propensity, as well as contextual factors, such as entrepreneurship education and family support, on entrepreneurial intention (EI) among students studying the food innovations and entrepreneurship program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Structural relationships between key variables were illuminated through the deployment of structural equation modelling (SEM) using SMART-PLS. The study found that all factors are significantly related to entrepreneurial intention. However, entrepreneurship education and family support, as contextual factors, are the most influential factors on entrepreneurial intention, while internal locus of control and risk-taking propensity have a lower impact on entrepreneurial intention. This study reveals the potential for using SCCT within entrepreneurial intention examinations.