The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on the Entrepreneurial Intention of Prospective Entrepreneurs: Focusing on the Mediating Effects of Customer Interviews and Problem-Solving Skills

Objectives This study aims to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur, considering entrepreneurship education as the independent variable and entrepreneurial intention as the dependent variable. A partial mediation model was established to investigate the effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention through customer interviews and problem-solving skills. Methods To do this, a mediation model analysis was conducted through the responses of 389 learners from 16 universities who performed the KDB entrepreneurial education program conducted by the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation. The study employed STATA 17 version to conduct basic statistical analysis, correlation analysis, as well as partial mediation analysis and significance testing using the khb analysis method. Entrepreneurship education was assumed as an independent variable, entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneurs was assumed as a dependent variable, and customer interviews and problem-solving skills as mediating variables. Results Firstly, entrepreneurship education had a positive (+) effect on entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur. Secondly, entrepreneurship education positively influenced entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur through customer interviews. Thirdly, entrepreneurship education positively influenced entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur through the improvement of problem-solving skills. Through the results of this study, it was confirmed that entrepreneurship education is necessary to strengthen entrepreneurial intention. To enhance the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education, it was found that customer interviews and problem-solving skills are important during the process of entrepreneurship education, and these educational methods improve entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur. Conclusions The finding that entrepreneurship education positively influences entrepreneurial intention of prospective entrepreneur is significant in confirming the effectiveness and necessity of entrepreneurship education. Additionally, the study is significant in verifying and confirming the partial mediating effect of customer interviews and problem-solving skills in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and the enhancement of entrepreneurial intention. By confirming whether customer interviews and problem-solving skills mediate the effect in the process where entrepreneurship education manifests as improved entrepreneurial intention, this study contributes to elucidating in detail that the effects of entrepreneurship education can lead to entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, the academic and practical implications are also found in identifying the role of intermediate variables such as customer interviews and problem-solving skills in the process where the effects of entrepreneurship education emerge.