The Relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Digital Entrepreneurship Intentions among Engineering Graduates of Pakistan

Abstract

Digital entrepreneurship is a dynamic and sustainable business model that aims to promote the growth of the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem. This research examines the relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurship intentions. Firstly, the role of digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy as a mediator is examined, shedding light on the mechanisms through which entrepreneurship education influences digital entrepreneurship intentions. Digital literacy is introduced as a moderator to assess the boundary conditions under which this relationship may vary. This study contributes to the existing literature by advancing our understanding of the dynamics surrounding digital entrepreneurship intentions, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship education. The study follows quantitative approach with target audience of 375 engineering graduates of 2022 and 2023 from top ranking engineering universities in Pakistan. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurship intentions. It is further confirmed that digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between these two variables in a positive manner, and digital literacy moderates the relationship between them such that if digital literacy is high, then the relationship between entrepreneurial education and digital entrepreneurial intentions will be strengthened. This research thus advances the existing literature by unraveling the intricate dynamics of digital entrepreneurship intentions within the framework of entrepreneurship education, contributing valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and practitioners in the field.