The Influence of Entrepreneurial Education on Students’ Business Innovation and Motivation

Addressing the high unemployment rates among graduates and the Z generation is crucial. The education business curriculum aligns students' innovation and entrepreneurship (IAE) with their personal needs and motivation to develop their own businesses. This research explores the impact of entrepreneurship education on students' personal needs and how entrepreneurship education and students' personal needs influence their motivation to develop their own businesses. Through an online survey and purposive technique sampling, 367 students and lecturers in vocational education in China were selected to complete the questionnaires. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to validate the research construct and students’ perspectives and views on IAE courses. This study found that students understand the goals of IAE; seeking practical knowledge and learning through experience have a positive and significant effect on personal need and motivation to become entrepreneurs. Education stakeholders such as teachers play an important role in fostering students’ innovative thinking, providing real-world practice opportunities, and using diverse evaluation methods. Both teachers and students agree on the importance of problem-solving skills, satisfying learning interests, and integrating subject and entrepreneurship education. The findings suggest enhancing IAE by aligning the system with objectives, promoting a balance of practical and theoretical courses, and fostering interdisciplinary teamwork and innovation. This approach aims to enhance the quality of IAE courses and business operations.