Formation of the Entrepreneurial Potential of Student Youth: A Factor of Work Experience

Abstract

International norms regarding educational activity are aimed at forming entrepreneurial competencies in students. The motivational readiness of student youth to implement these entrepreneurial competencies in practice reflects the potential for entrepreneurship development. Despite the social group of student youths being considered belonging to the category of economically inactive population, students are traditionally engaged in social production. New changes in labor and consumption conditions of higher education services contribute to the growing trend in students who combine study and work. Considering this trend, we investigate the impact of students’ work experience on forming their entrepreneurial potential. The analytical component of this study is performed according to the materials obtained through a questionnaire, which covers 746 students. The findings prove that students who engage in employment before studying at university tended to combine university studies and employment in social production. Having such an employment experience increases students’ confidence regarding their entrepreneurial abilities and has a positive effect on students’ intentions to start their own businesses. Simultaneously, the lack of experience in management assistance does not constrain students’ intentions to start a business.

Keywords

• student youth
• work experience
• entrepreneurial potential
• secondary employment