Journal of Innovation & Knowledge (Jul 2021)
Can students’ perception of the diverse learning environment affect their intentions toward entrepreneurship?
Abstract
Business schools play a major role in influencing students’ entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors. Although research linking entrepreneurship education with intentions is abundant, few studies have focused on the learning environment through the lens of diversity. This paper adopts the well-established theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to explore the impact of students’ perception of diverse learning environment on their intentions toward entrepreneurship. Using a quantitative approach, data was collected from 407 students in an international business school in France. The results show that students’ favorable perception of the respect their business schools show diversity positively influences the formation of their entrepreneurial intentions through the mediating effect of personal attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. This study contributes to existing knowledge about learning environments and their impact on students’ entrepreneurial intentions. It enriches research based on the TPB model through integrating an unprecedented construct: the diverse learning environment. In practice, it informs academic practitioners and institutions about the need to capitalize on diversity to develop students’ entrepreneurial intentions and drive entrepreneurship.