Building the next generation of digital entrepreneurs: Lessons from indonesian vocational students

Introduction: Entrepreneurship education is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in shaping students’ intentions to pursue digital entrepreneurial careers. However, the mechanism through which this education influences students’ digital entrepreneurial intention, particularly through entrepreneurial attitude, remains underexplored in the context of vocational education in Indonesia.Methods: This study employed a quantitative approach using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the impact of entrepreneurship education on students' digital entrepreneurial intention, mediated by entrepreneurial attitude. Data were collected through an online survey from 350 students at vocational schools in Indonesia. Measurement and structural models were evaluated to test reliability, validity, and hypothesized relationships.Results: The analysis confirmed that entrepreneurship education has a significant and positive effect on both entrepreneurial attitude and digital entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, entrepreneurial attitude was found to play a substantial mediating role in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurial intention. The model demonstrated strong predictive relevance, with R² values of 0.572 and 0.789 for entrepreneurial attitude and digital entrepreneurial intention, respectively.Conclusions: This study highlights the pivotal role of entrepreneurial attitude in enhancing the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education on students’ digital entrepreneurial aspirations. Strengthening entrepreneurship education programs and integrating attitude-shaping components can foster stronger digital entrepreneurial intentions among vocational students. Future efforts should focus on improving educator competencies and expanding research to broader educational contexts across Indonesia.