The influence of online university education on the creation of sustainable businesses

Purpose This study aims to analyze the influence of online university education, not only in fostering entrepreneurial intentions but also in the actual creation of sustainable businesses by students, while also considering the contribution of other academic, contextual and personal variables. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative and cross-sectional design was used, using structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess both direct and mediated relationships between online university education and the creation of sustainable businesses. Data were collected from an online Spanish university participating in the international GUESSS project. The sample consisted of 881 students. Findings The study demonstrates the positive impact of online university education, career intentions and level of studies, as well as the significant mediating role of University Climate and Knowledge Branch, highlighting the key role of the online academic environment in sustainable entrepreneurship. Practical implications The findings provide key insights for policies, teaching practices and institutional strategies that promote online educational environments conducive to interdisciplinary and impactful sustainable entrepreneurship, with special attention to the role of University Climate and Knowledge Branch. Social implications The results underscore the importance of promoting interdisciplinary approaches, strengthening sustainable institutional cultures and fostering active learning methodologies to enhance the creation of sustainable businesses. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to empirically examine the contribution of online university education to the actual creation of sustainable businesses by students, expanding the traditional focus on entrepreneurial intentions.