Entrepreneurial Intent on Induction to Undergraduate Business Courses: A Comparison of Two Higher Education Institutions in the UK

Topic This study explores Entrepreneurial Intent (EI) in undergraduate students on induction across two UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at the transition point between secondary and tertiary education levels. Aim The aim of this study is to explore patterns of self-reported EI in new undergraduate Business students from two UK HEIs. This study builds on previous research at Coventry University (Williamson and Wick 2013 and Smith et al 2017) in order to see if the high EI rates recorded at Coventry University are replicated across other institutions. It reports on the response of students from two UK HEI Business Schools (Coventry and Birmingham City University – BCU), entering undergraduate study in 2018. The study will compare data collected during induction week, before any formal teaching has commenced. Findings The study confirms findings from previous studies and demonstrates that students from both institutions recorded higher than normal levels of EI. However, there were several differences between the student responses from the two institutions and these are discussed later in the paper. Contribution This study explores the EI of students during the university induction period in the moment prior to starting their formal HE studies. This period of undergraduate study has been relatively ignored in the wider field of EI and can help shed light on the shifting aspirations of students as they progress through HEI