Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Motivation on University Student’s Intentions of Becoming Entrepreneurs: A Case of United States International University – Africa (USIU-A)

A Research Project Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of the Study is to explore the theory of planned theory to student’s entrepreneurial intentions. The research questions for the study were; what impact does subjective norms have on student’s intentions to become entrepreneurs? What impact does perceived behavioral control have on student’s intentions to become entrepreneurs? What impact does attitude towards enterprise have on student’s intentions to become entrepreneurs? The research methodology used by the researcher in conducting the study was descriptive design. The dependent variable in the study was student’s intentions to become entrepreneurs and the independent variables were; subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and attitude towards enterprise. The research was conducted among students in different faculties in United States International University-Africa with a sample size of two hundred and fifty (250). The data was analyzed using Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics and regression were used in the study to interpret the data. The study examined how perceived subjective norms influence student’s intentions to become entrepreneur. The study found that the student’s intentions to become entrepreneurs are influenced by student’s closest friends, and other people who are too close to the student. The study also found that most people start their own business, because they have good ideas and want to realize them. The study revealed how perceived behavioral control influence student’s intentions to become entrepreneur. The study found that it is entirely upon the students to become an entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur the student think that they would have sufficient control over their business. Due to the behavioral control, students feel determined to create business venture in future. The study examined how perceived cognitive ability influence student’s intentions to become entrepreneur. The study reveals that being an entrepreneur implies more advantages than disadvantages to students. The study found that a career as an entrepreneur is attractive to most students hence they feel that being an entrepreneur would give them great satisfaction. The study also shows that among various options, most students would rather be entrepreneurs. The study concludes that relationship between the intention variable and the subjective norm variable is positive and statistically significant. The relationship between the intention variable and the perceived variable is positive and statistically significant. Lastly, the relationship between the intention variable and the attitude variable is positive and statistically significant. The study recommends the use of subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and cognitive ability to influence students’ intentions to become entrepreneurs