From classroom to startup: The mediating role of self-efficacy in entrepreneurial education

This study investigated the influence of entrepreneurial education on self-employment intentions, incorporating the mediating roles of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. Applying social cognitive theory, I used structural equation modeling to analyze survey responses from 418 Chinese college students across Beijing and Shanghai. The results showed that entrepreneurial education significantly predicted self-employment intentions, while entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation played mediating roles in this relationship. The findings contribute to the entrepreneurship literature as well as providing practical insights by demonstrating the critical role educational programs play in teaching entrepreneurial skills and fostering the psychological attributes necessary for initiating entrepreneurial ventures.