Impact of Institutional Support on Entrepreneurial Intention among Master’s and PhD Students: A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Approach

Abstract

Background

Entrepreneurship has come as a significant indicator of innovation, employment generation, and economic development. Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) play an important role in promoting entrepreneurial orientation among research scholars through institutional support mechanisms such as mentoring, training, guidance, networking opportunities, incubation facilities, and entrepreneurship development programs. However, the point to which institutional support influences entrepreneurial intention among Master’s and PhD students remains insufficiently explored.

  Objective

The present study examines the imposingness of Institutional Support on Entrepreneurial Intention among Master’s and PhD students using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

  Methods

A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed. Primary data were collected from 220 Master’s and PhD students enrolled in Higher Educational Institutions. Reliability analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were conducted using Jamovi and the SEMLj package. Institutional Support (IS) was measured through three indicators (IS2, IS3, IS4), while Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) was assessed using three indicators (EI1, EI2, EI3).

  Results

The reliability analysis unwavering acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.811). CFA results confirmed satisfactory factor loadings for all indicators, ranging from 0.611 to 0.955. The measurement model exhibited acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.976, RMSEA = 0.058). SEM analysis revealed that Institutional Support had a significant and positive influence on Entrepreneurial Intention (β = 0.868, p < 0.001), thereby supporting the proposed hypothesis.

  Conclusion

The findings indicate that institutional support mechanisms substantially enhance entrepreneurial intention among postgraduate students. HEIs should strengthen entrepreneurship-oriented institutional ecosystems through policy support, mentorship, entrepreneurial training, incubation support, and research commercialization initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial career choices among students.