High unemployment rates have recently been reported in South
Africa. Graduate unemployment is also reported to be rising, particularly for
graduates from Historically Black Institutions (HBIs). It is worrying that the
rate of entrepreneurial activity by youths is reported to be low in South
Africa when compared to other middle-income countries, yet the nation is
battling with rising unemployment. Despite the country’s progress in higher
education access, a mismatch persists between the skills graduates acquire and
the needs of the labour market, worsening unemployment, particularly among
young people. Regional disparities further complicate the issue, with provinces
such as the Eastern Cape experiencing disproportionately high levels of
unemployment, while urban provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape offer
more opportunities for employment and entrepreneurial activity. Understanding
the impact of entrepreneurial passion and creativity on higher education
students’ entrepreneurial intentions may help reduce the effects of
unemployment and improve entrepreneurial activity in South Africa.
The primary objective of the study was to investigate the effects
of entrepreneurial passion and creativity on entrepreneurial intentions of
students at a Historically Black University in the Eastern Cape Province of
South Africa. The secondary objectives were to investigate the effect of
entrepreneurial passion on entrepreneurial intentions of students, and to
investigate the effect of creativity on entrepreneurial intentions of students.
The theories that underpinned the study are the theory of
entrepreneurial event, the theory of Planned Behaviour and the Nature and
Experience of entrepreneurial passion theory. These theories provide a unique
lens through which it is possible to understand the factors that drive students
to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in relation to the emotional,
cognitive, and contextual influences on decision-making. The study followed a
positivist approach, using a quantitative research approach and a descriptive
research design. A sample of 376 students was drawn from students at a
university in the Eastern Cape Province using the convenience sampling method.
A structured online questionnaire with four sections was administered through
students’ e-mails. To test the hypotheses, simple linear regression and
multiple linear regression analyses were used.
The results showed that both entrepreneurial passion and
creativity have a significant positive effect on the entrepreneurial intentions
of students. The findings of the study showed that entrepreneurial passion and
creativity positively influence entrepreneurial intentions among students. In
educational contexts, these results suggest that incorporating entrepreneurial
mentorship, practical business exposure, and creativity-enhancing activities
into the curriculum can significantly boost students' entrepreneurial
intentions. In policy settings, these findings underscore the importance of
creating supportive environments for young entrepreneurs, such as access to
funding, training, and mentorship. Tailored policies that promote
entrepreneurship through targeted support in both urban and rural regions can
help bridge the gap and encourage a more entrepreneurial culture across the
country.
Based on the findings, recommendations were suggested to the HBIs,
students, governments as well as other organisations that support
entrepreneurship in higher education institutions. The recommendations to HBIs
include that institution management should focus on implementing policies and
strategies that foster students’ entrepreneurship intentions and attitudes.
Students should also be encouraged to create employment for themselves and
others so as to curb the rise in graduate unemployment.
Future studies should include more Historically Black Institutions
(HBIs) for a more feasible analysis of ways the entrepreneurial passion and
creativity of students can be nurtured to positively affect their
entrepreneurship intentions. Furthermore, future studies may also look into why
students with guardians who own a business or with an entrepreneurial
background are more inclined towards starting businesses than those without
entrepreneurial backgrounds.
Author
(s) Details
Nokhutula Tinotenda
Nyati
Department of Business Innovations and Entrepreneurship, University of Fort
Hare, South Africa.
Tendai Chimucheka
Department of Business Innovations and Entrepreneurship, University of Fort
Hare, South Africa.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-49238-53-4/CH15
