ROLE OF UNIVERSITY INCUBATION CENTERS IN SHAPING THE DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION OF THE STUDENTS

Abstract

Universities around the globe play a key role in developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem for students. However, the significance of universities as providers and enablers of entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as their influence on digital entrepreneurial intent among students, has received little attention in the Pakistani context. This study is an attempt to bridge this gap by exploring the role of incubation centers in fostering digital entrepreneurial intentions among students at universities in Pakistan. Since this study is qualitative in nature, data is collected through semi-structured interviews. The sample of this study is students engaged in digital entrepreneurial activities at university-based business incubation centers in Islamabad. The findings of this study revealed that tangible and intangible resources provided at university incubation center influenced the students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behavioral control and subsequently digital entrepreneurship intentions. University incubators served as entrepreneurial ecosystems which promoted incubated individuals’ sense of desirability and self-efficacy. According to the findings exposure to successful entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial support at university incubators increased students' willingness to become entrepreneurs. Moreover, university incubators inculcated the personality traits of persistence, resilience and adaptability in the respondents to face setbacks and overcome obstacles by enabling collaborative problem solving that facilitated their entrepreneurial behavior. Students’ digital entrepreneurial intentions predicted by their attitude towards entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control resulted in digital entrepreneurial behavior. The findings of this research can assist policymakers and educators in identifying more effective and systematic ways to promote entrepreneurship at universities, and so contribute to Pakistan's economy by generating new firms. The study's findings will help future researchers better understand students' digital entrepreneurial intentions while investigating the importance of student entrepreneurship at university incubators. Furthermore, the study provides a foundation for future research into the effectiveness of university business incubators in comparison to the SOR model in terms of student digital entrepreneurial intention.