Green Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies: An Empirical Analysis of Sustainable Competencies among University Students

This study explores the factors influencing green entrepreneurial intentions (GEI) among higher education students and their significance in cultivating sustainable competencies within an emerging economy. The research utilises Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine how perceived educational support, environmental awareness, self-efficacy, and attitudes influence students’ inclination toward green entrepreneurship. Empirical data were collected from 399 university students enrolled at three universities in northern India.The results indicate that environmental understanding, perceived educational support, and self-efficacy significantly influence green entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, attitude plays a significant role in shaping GEI and functions as an important mediating mechanism between environmental understanding and green entrepreneurial intention . However, the moderating role of attitude between perceived educational support and GEI was not statistically significant . These findings highlight the importance of strengthening sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship education to develop favourable attitudes and entrepreneurial confidence among students. The study offers implications for policymakers, educators, and institutions seeking to foster sustainable entrepreneurial competencies among young people in emerging economies.