Determinants of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Undergraduate University Students’ Entrepreneurship Behavioural Intention

Abstract

Global unemployment is rising and will continue to undermine the socio-economic development of individual nations. Therefore, entrepreneurship is seen as a vital instrument that engenders employment, innovativeness, and sustainable development. This study investigated the determinants of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate students’ entrepreneurship behavioural intention in Nigeria. The correlational research design was adopted. The population of the study are all Final year undergraduates STEM students in Niger State Nigeria. The sample size was made up of 240 respondents who were selected using simple random sampling. Questionnaires on the perception of respondents on entrepreneurship education, government support and entrepreneurship intention were used for data collection. Using Cronbach Alpha, the instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.72, 0.76 and 0.74, respectively. The findings of the study indicated that entrepreneurship education and government support are predictors of entrepreneurship intention among STEM university undergraduates’ final year students. Gender does not significantly impact the entrepreneurship intention of the respondents in this population. This study has contributed empirical evidence of the critical elements that should influence STEM students’ intention to start an enterprise or business and become an entrepreneur. The implication of this study to the field of study is the university and government should motivate STEM graduates to start a business through the provision of incentives. It was recommended that the Federal and State Governments should do more to provide adequate government support for young graduates to engage in entrepreneurship.