Abstract:
The general objective of the study was to explore the psychological and contextual factors grounded in college and university student's entrepreneurial intent. The study focuses in Bench- Maji, Kefa, and Sheka Zones The research design of the study was a cross-sectional survey design where relevant data were collected through questionnaires from a sample of 347 University and Technical and Vocational Education and Training ( TVET) College graduating class students. The data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics ( Bar graph and Pie chart) and inferential statistics (Chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Independent-samples t-test, and One-way between- group analysis of variance). The qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interview with prospective graduates and key informant interview with concerned government officials. The stud}' found out that among prospective graduates of higher education institutions in the study area, only 45.4-50.6% had low. 24-33.7% had moderate, and 18-25% had a high level of entrepreneurial intent. The study also showed that the level of higher education, prior experience of self-employment, and the chance of taking extracurricular entrepreneurship courses were the three demographic and other distal variables that explained the difference in entrepreneurial
intent among the study population. The study, however, showed: gender, the chance of taking
entrepreneurship courses as part of curriculum, college, department, parent’s occupation, and le\ el of education had no statistically significant association with entrepreneurial intent of the study population. The study reveals that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control predicted the entrepreneurial intention of prospective graduate students. However, personal attitude found to be insignificant in determining entrepreneurial intention. With regard to the comparison, there were no meaningful difference TVET and University students in their attitude and perceived behavioral control. The subjective norms and the overall entrepreneurial intention score found to be higher among TVET prospective graduate students. This study has also found out that structural factor (access to consultancy service) and cultural factor (shared values associated with the nature of departments, prestige, and Community perception towards entrepreneurship) predict entrepreneurial intent among the study population.
