From competition to contribution: How trait competitiveness drives social entrepreneurial intentions among university students

This study examines the influence of entrepreneurship education and trait competitiveness on social entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Taiwan, with entrepreneurial attitude and subjective norms acting as mediators. A quantitative survey was conducted with 331 undergraduate and postgraduate students across business and humanities fields, and structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the relationships between these variables. The results indicate that both entrepreneurship education and trait competitiveness indirectly affect social entrepreneurial intentions. Additionally, altruism, entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, and governmental support directly affect social entrepreneurial intentions, while Sustainable Development Goal knowledge does not show a significant effect. This research indicates the vital role of entrepreneurship education and trait competitiveness in fostering social entrepreneurship, providing meaningful insights for educators and policymakers aiming to promote entrepreneurial mindsets oriented towards social innovation and sustainable development.