The impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation and education on generation Z’s intention towards entrepreneurship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of entrepreneurial features and the intention towards entrepreneurship (ITE) of generation Z students. The paper also explores if entrepreneurial education (EE) plays a role in the development of individual entrepreneurship orientation (IEO) and in increasing the ITE of the generation Z students. Design/methodology/approach The research consists of a survey of students in the fields of marketing and communication ( n = 590) conducted in January 2018. The authors used SPSS software to test the reliability of scales that measure IEO, ITE, the need for achievement, structural behaviour, self-efficacy and the attitude towards job flexibility, and to run Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression and t test to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings show that generation Z students have similar ITE and EE to colleagues from other generations. EE has a significant impact on increasing both IEO and ITE. Nevertheless, generation Z students have a higher need for achievement, a lower self-efficacy and are more open to a flexible labour market. Originality/value This paper explores a topic which has received little attention: the interest and capacity of generation Z students to develop their own business. The paper also analyses whether the EE offered by universities can play a role in this regard.