Understanding the Linkage between Relational Support, Self-Efficacy, University Environment and Entrepreneurial Interest among Mba Students in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is well documented as one of the ways of reducing unemployment and creating wealth in an economy. Understanding entrepreneurial interest is seen as the best channel to determine and shape the behavior of people towards entrepreneurship. This paper investigates the link between relational support, self-efficacy, university environment and entrepreneurial interest among 86 students who enrolled for MBA at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam, Saudi Arabia in the last quarter of 2017. The results, using logistic regression, reveal that self-efficacy, university environment and relational support have great likelihood of influencing entrepreneurial interest of the MBA students. While self-efficacy and university environment have a significant impact on entrepreneurial interest, relational support does not. Thus, it becomes necessary for the university to create an enabling environment for the students to start their own businesses as this improves the student’s self-confidence and efficacy. The Government and private sector should also sensitize the general populace on the need for the relatives to support students in their households to start their own businesses as this would create more wealth and engender sustainable development. 

Suggested citation

A. Ababtain , Yusuf Akinwale (2024). Understanding the Linkage between Relational Support, Self-Efficacy, University Environment and Entrepreneurial Interest among Mba Students in Dammam, Saudi Arabia Koozakar Proceedings, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.69798/04538672

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