Ecosystems and entrepreneurial intention among students: the mediating role of Islamic values

Introduction. The study of ecosystem, entrepreneurial intention, and Islamic values is relevant as it explores the intersection between education, religious principles, and entrepreneurship, which is prominent for promoting ethical business initiatives and socially responsible in this contemporary society. For this matter, this paper aims to examine the influence of entrepreneurial ecosystems, including business incubators, entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial mindset, and role models, on the entrepreneurial intention of students, with the mediating of Islamic values in the context of Islamic boarding schools. Study participants and methods. This study involved a self-administered survey to Islamic boarding schools students. The targeted sample in this research was Islamic boarding schools in several areas in Indonesia, including Madura, Mojokerto, Bandung, Jakarta, Semarang, and Banyuwangi. Approximately 550 questionnaires were distributed and resulted 516 valid responses for further analysis using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results. The findings indicate that entrepreneurship education has a robust influence on entrepreneurial intention (t-value = 10.206; p-value = .000), and Islamic values (t-value = 8.209; p-value = .000). In addition, role models have a robust effect on entrepreneurial intention (t-value = 35.852; p-value = .000) and Islamic values (t-value = 2.228; p-value = .026). While business incubators have no effect on entrepreneurial intention (t-value = .900; p-value = .368), but it has an effect on Islamic values (t-value =11.538; p-value = .000). Indeed, entrepreneurial mindset has no influence on entrepreneurial intention (t-value = .781; p-value = .435), but it has an influence on Islamic values (t-value = 2.228; p-value = .026). This study also confirms the linkage between Islamic values and entrepreneurial intention (t-value = 13.679; p-value = .000). The mediating testing showed that Islamic values act as partial mediators for the linkage between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention (t-value = 7.388, p = .000). Similarly, Islamic values act as partial mediators for the relationship between role models and entrepreneurial intention (t-value = 2.189, p = .029). Meanwhile, Islamic values failed in mediating the link between business incubator and entrepreneurial mindset on entrepreneurial intention. Conclusion. Entrepreneurial ecosystems play a prominent role in enhancing entrepreneurial intention among students as well as driving Islamic values. The findings add insights into the literature on entrepreneurship education, which notes a robust linkage between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and entrepreneurial intention. Hence, there is an increasing direction for policy developers, entrepreneurship institutions, and Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia and other Islamic countries to more effectively facilitate the development of entrepreneurship that combines religious principles with sustainable and ethical business practices.