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This study explains the Entrepreneurial Intent (EI) of university students enrolled in engineering programs at the public university of the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, in terms of the three constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, formal (entrepreneurship education) and informal (the entrepreneurial demonstrated behavior of family and friends) institutional factors, and two individual traits (innovativeness and need of achievement). The conceptual model proposed also examines the role of entrepreneurship education in strengthening entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Survey data is analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings indicate entrepreneurial attitudes have the most significant predictive ability on entrepreneurial intention over entrepreneurial education and the manifest entrepreneurial actions of close social groups that have only a moderate influence on EI. The analysis also confirms that entrepreneurship education enhances entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Based on these results, it is recommended that Engineering Schools devote more attention to experiential learning to create favorable entrepreneurial attitudes and develop students’ entrepreneurial skills, particularly among those with a high need for achievement.

Pilar Ester Arroyo, Tecnológico de Monterrey

Professor, EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Toluca, Mexico. Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Mexico, Doctor in Business Administration, EGADE Business School with acknowledgment of University of Texas at Austin, Mexico.

María de Lourdes Cárcamo-Solís, Universidad de Guanajuato

Professor, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Universidad de Guanajuato, México. Bachelor degree in Economics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Doctor in Social Sciences and Politics, Universidad Iberoamericana, México.

Héctor Cuevas-Vargas, Universidad Tecnológica del Suroeste de Guanajuato

Research Professor, Department of Business Development, Universidad Tecnológica del Suroeste de Guanajuato, México. Bachelor Degree in Law, Universidad Quetzalcóatl, Ciudad de México, México, Doctor in Administrative Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, México.

Salvador Estrada-Rodríguez, Universidad de Guanajuato Campus Celaya-Salvatierra

 

Professor, Department of Finance and Business, Universidad de Guanajuato Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, México. Bachelor Degree in Industrial Biochemical Engineer, Mexico. Doctor en Ciencias Administrativas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España.

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Received 2020-11-09
Accepted 2021-09-17
Published 2021-11-02