Entrepreneurial potential among polytechnic higher education students

Orlando Lima Rua

Abstract


Purpose: The main goal of this article is to analyze the entrepreneurial potential of the Polytechnic higher education students.

Design/methodology/approach: For this purpose, we use a quantitative methodological approach, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of students enrolled in the entrepreneurship curricular unit of the School of Accounting and Administration (ISCAP) of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP).

Findings: Based on data collection from 227 undergraduate students in entrepreneurship from Portugal, the results allow us to conclude that personal desirability positively enhances the intention to start a business. On the other hand, perceived difficulties negatively enhances that intention.

Research limitations: As the main limitation of this study we highlight the fact that this is a unique case study can, in itself, constitute a limitation, advising on the future development of multiple case studies to consolidate the results obtained now.

Practical implications: This study provides guidance for managers and teachers of higher education polytechnic institutions when adopting policies that have implications on the consolidation of an organizational culture focused on entrepreneurship and which thus competently meets the demands of society’s new paradigms. These implications will result in the implementation of an entrepreneurship curricular unit with programme, teaching methodologies and assessment, in order to train more skilled entrepreneurs.

Originality/value: The majority of studies concerning the entrepreneurial potential is basically targeted at universities (or university students). This study consists in analyzing entrepreneurial potential in higher education polytechnic students.

 

Keywords: Entrepreneurial potential, polytechnic students, business creation.

 

 

[PT]

Título: "Potencial empreendedor entre estudantes do ensino superior politécnico"

Resumo

Objetivos: O objetivo principal deste artigo é analisar o potencial empreendedor dos estudantes do ensino superior politécnico.

Desenho/metodologia/abordagem: Para esse fim, utilizamos uma abordagem metodológica quantitativa, aplicando um questionário a uma amostra de alunos matriculados na unidade curricular de empreendedorismo da Escola de Contabilidade e Administração (ISCAP) do Instituto Politécnico do Porto (IPP).

Resultados: Com base na coleta de dados de 227 estudantes de graduação em empreendedorismo de Portugal, os resultados permitem concluir que a conveniência pessoal melhora positivamente a intenção de iniciar um negócio. Por outro lado, as dificuldades percebidas aumentam negativamente essa intenção.

Limitações: Como principal limitação deste estudo, destacamos o fato de que este é um estudo de caso único que, por si só, pode constituir uma limitação, aconselhando o desenvolvimento futuro de vários estudos de caso para consolidar os resultados obtidos agora.

Implicações: este estudo orienta gestores e professores de instituições politécnicas de ensino superior ao adotar políticas que tenham implicações na consolidação de uma cultura organizacional focada no empreendedorismo e que, assim, atenda com competência às demandas dos novos paradigmas da sociedade. Essas implicações resultarão na implementação de uma unidade curricular de empreendedorismo com programa, metodologias de ensino e avaliação, a fim de formar empreendedores mais qualificados.

Originalidade/valor: a maioria dos estudos sobre o potencial empreendedor é basicamente voltada para universidades (ou estudantes universitários). Este estudo consiste em analisar o potencial empreendedor de estudantes politécnicos do ensino superior.

 

Palavras-chave: Potencial empreendedor, estudantes politécnicos, criação de empresas.


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Copyright (c) 2016 European Journal of Applied Business and Management

 

European Journal of Applied Business and Management

ISSN: 2183-5594

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58869/EJABM

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