Teachers promoting entrepreneurship in HEIs -testing trait activation theory

Abstract This research examines how teachers’ entrepreneurial traits and institutional support influence their promotion of entrepreneurship in HEIs. Data from 778 Finnish HEI teachers representing various educational fields were analysed using quantitative methods. In this study, traits refer to teachers’ entrepreneurial characteristics, including innovation ability, risk-taking propensity and problem-solving skills, which can be developed over time. Trait activation theory is applied as a framework to explain the relationship between teachers’ entrepreneurial traits, institutional support, and teachers’ actions promoting entrepreneurship. Findings show that both teachers’ entrepreneurial traits and institutional support from the university have positive effects on teachers’ promotion of entrepreneurship in their HEI. Thus, teachers are more likely to become promoters of entrepreneurship if they themselves have entrepreneurial traits. In addition, if the university’s management and structural systems support entrepreneurship, it will have a positive effect on teachers’ activity in the promotion of entrepreneurship. This study contributes to the literature by showing that organisational context can encourage teachers to act as promoters of entrepreneurship in HEIs. Teachers’ promotion of entrepreneurship is stimulated by structural and managerial support as contextual variables, and structural support mechanisms especially have direct and indirect effects in activating teachers’ entrepreneurial traits.