Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: An Analysis of Attitudes and Constraints in a Complex Business Environment

This research explores the entrepreneurial intentions of university students, focusing on their attitudes toward entrepreneurship and the barriers they face when considering this path. Through a structured questionnaire distributed to a diverse sample of undergraduate students in business and economics, the aim of this paper was to evaluate their intentions and willingness to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The study identified key attitudes, including the perceived availability of more opportunities, higher levels of satisfaction, and supplementary advantages compared to other professions. In addition, there were examined various barriers that impede students from engaging in entrepreneurial ventures, such as financial constraints, lack of entrepreneurial education, the economic conditions or the fear of failure. Findings reveal that while more than half of participants express enthusiasm for setting up their own business, their willingness to engage in entrepreneurial activities is significantly hindered by a complex and unstable business environment. The analysis also highlights an increase in reluctance to pursue new business ventures, driven by concerns over risk-taking, insufficient initial capital, and fear of failure. This research contributes to the understanding of the psychological and contextual elements that shape students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship, and how higher education institutions can better provide students the necessary skills and knowledge to foster their entrepreneurial aspirations, ultimately enhancing their contributions to economic growth and innovation.