Sustainable Institutional Environment and Higher Vocational Students’ Digital Entrepreneurial Intention in the Border Area of Yunnan Province: Impact of Social Mindfulness and AI Literacy

Digital entrepreneurship is the key to revitalizing the economy, and the institutional environment is relevant to entrepreneurship. Therefore, in November 2024, this study was conducted using 5329 samples of higher vocational students from 8 vocational colleges in the border area of Yunnan Province, China, to study the relationship between sustainable institutional environment and the digital entrepreneurship intention of higher vocational students, as well as the promoting effects of social mindfulness and AI literacy. The results confirm for the first time that the sustainable institutional environment in Yunnan Province of China is positively correlated with the digital entrepreneurship intention of higher vocational students, and social mindfulness and AI literacy have promoting effects. This shows that higher vocational students in the border area of Yunnan Province need not only a sound sustainable system but also a connection between kindness and the ability to apply intelligent tools to fully promote their digital entrepreneurial practices in the future.