The interplay of environmental awareness, education, and self-efficacy in shaping sustainable entrepreneurial intentions: an empirical study in India

Abstract Despite growing academic interest in sustainable entrepreneurship, limited empirical evidence exists on how entrepreneurial intentions form in this context, particularly in emerging economies. This study examines the mechanisms linking environmental awareness and entrepreneurial education to sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among Indian Muslim minority university students, testing the mediating role of Self-Efficacy using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results confirm that environmental awareness and entrepreneurial education directly strengthen intentions, but surprisingly, Self-Efficacy, though enhanced by education fails to mediate these relationships. This challenges assumptions from Social Cognitive Theory in collectivist contexts, suggesting alternative pathways (e.g., community support) may outweigh individual confidence. The study advances theory by contextualizing intention models for sustainability ventures and offers policymakers actionable levers: integrating sustainability modules into curricula and leveraging religious institutions for outreach. While investigating the roles of environmental awareness, education, and self-efficacy, this study particularly highlights how formal entrepreneurial education bridges classroom learning to sustainable venture creation. Limitations include cross-sectional data and focus on intentions; future work should track behavioral outcomes longitudinally.