Entrepreneurship Education and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediating Role of Attitudes and the Moderating Role of Prior Entrepreneurial Experience

This study explores the relationship between entrepreneurial education (EE) and sustainable entrepreneurial intention (SEI) among university students in Bangladesh, highlighting the mediating role of attitude toward sustainable entrepreneurship (ATSE) and the moderating effects of prior entrepreneurial experience (PEE). The study employs a quantitative methodology based on the theory of planned behavior and human capital theory. The analysis used a sample of 600 respondents, employing partial least squares structural equation modelling with SmartPLS4. The results demonstrate that EE has a significantly positive impact on SEI, indicating that students who receive an EE are more likely to foster SEI. The findings also reveal that attitude partially mediates the relationship between EE and SEI, indicating that EE improves students’ attitude toward sustainability, which, in turn, strengthens their SEI. Additionally, EE has a direct positive effect on students’ attitude toward sustainability, reinforcing the role of EE in shaping their attitude to sustainable entrepreneurship. The findings also indicate that PEE moderates the relationship between EE and ATSE, suggesting that students with PEE develop stronger positive attitudes toward sustainability. This finding highlights the importance of hands-on experience in reinforcing the impact of EE. The findings contribute to the literature by highlighting the importance of EE in fostering SEI and by offering practical insights for incorporating sustainability into entrepreneurship programs. The inclusion of sustainability in EE combined with experiential learning can effectively foster sustainable entrepreneurial mindsets and intentions of university students in Bangladesh.