Religiosity and entrepreneurship education on Islamic entrepreneurial intentions: the mediating role of entrepreneurial inspiration, attitude and self-efficacy

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the role of religiosity rooted in Islamic values, entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial inspiration, entrepreneurial attitude and self-efficacy in Islamic entrepreneurial intentions. This study explores the impact of religiosity on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach The sample consisted of 284 respondents from 17 provinces, encompassing 38 universities in Indonesia. Data analysis was performed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Findings The findings of this study revealed that a high level of faith and entrepreneurship education could enhance Islamic entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, these findings indicate that attitude and self-efficacy partially mediated this positive relationship. In contrast, entrepreneurial inspiration does not mediate the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurship education in relation to Islamic entrepreneurial intentions. This study contributes to the existing literature by examining religiosity as a determinant of entrepreneurial intentions, which aligns with previous research in this area. Social implications To increase the goal-specificity of entrepreneurial endeavors, policymakers in the Ministry of Education and universities should focus on improving Muslim students’ understanding of the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurship. An increase in religiosity within a country is likely to boost Islamic entrepreneurial intentions, primarily through developing strong informal social networks. This study has several limitations. First, this study focuses on university students in Indonesia, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts or non-student populations. Second, the use of cross-sectional data restricts the ability to establish causal relationships among variables. Originality/value These results offer valuable insights into the significant influence of Islamic values, particularly in the context of Islamic entrepreneurial intention. The findings underscore the practical importance of stakeholders incorporating religious considerations when implementing entrepreneurial programs.