The impact of entrepreneurship education on sustainable entrepreneurial intentions: A quasi-experimental study

In this paper, we examine how a semester-long sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship course shapes sustainable entrepreneurial intention (SEI) through individual sustainability orientation (ISO). Grounded in an adaptation of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, ISO is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct encompassing sustainability-oriented (SO) values, SO motivation, awareness of sustainability issues, and SO self-efficacy, dimensions expected to mediate educational effects on SEI with different temporal sensitivities. We implemented a quasi-experimental design across two graduate introductory entrepreneurship courses at two Canadian universities: one redesigned around sustainability mechanisms (treatment, N = 112) and one covering standard content (comparison, N = 47). Pre- and post-test surveys were conducted. Results show no direct effect of the treatment on SEI and no change in SO values, which were high at baseline. However, the treatment significantly increased students’ sustainability awareness, self-efficacy, and, unexpectedly, motivation. Among these, changes in awareness and self-efficacy were positively associated with changes in SEI. These findings indicate that semester-long interventions can reliably influence proximal cognitions (awareness and self-efficacy), while deeper dispositions such as values, and to a lesser extent motivation, likely require longer-term or more immersive exposure. Theoretically, this study conceptualizes ISO as a temporally layered construct that helps explain why prior findings on education–SEI links are mixed. Methodologically, it demonstrates the value of coupling quasi-experimental designs with pedagogical reporting. Practically, it highlights workable mechanisms, such as sustainability-anchored projects, sustainable business modeling, and impact-oriented pitches, that strengthen awareness and SO self-efficacy. These insights encourage moving beyond outcome-level evaluations toward understanding how entrepreneurship education can foster SEI.