The Role of Institutional Support in Shaping Entrepreneurial Mindset Among College Students: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract : The development of an entrepreneurial mindset among college students has become increasingly important in the context of changing employment patterns, technological advancement and the growing significance of innovation and self-employment. Higher educational institutions can contribute to entrepreneurial development by providing appropriate education, training, mentoring, encouragement, practical exposure and entrepreneurial facilities. Against this background, the present study examines the role of institutional support in shaping the entrepreneurial mindset among college students, with special reference to SAFI Institute of Advanced Study. The study is based on primary data collected from 100 college students through a structured questionnaire. The study focuses on two major constructs: institutional support and entrepreneurial mindset. Institutional support is examined through entrepreneurship education, training and skill development, mentoring and guidance, institutional encouragement and environment, and infrastructure and entrepreneurial facilities. Entrepreneurial mindset is assessed through opportunity recognition, creative thinking, entrepreneurial confidence, calculated risk-taking and interest in entrepreneurship as a career. Percentage analysis, dimension-wise analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient are employed for data analysis. The findings indicate that students have a generally favourable perception of institutional support, with institutional encouragement and environment receiving the highest level of agreement at 71.3%, while infrastructure and entrepreneurial facilities record the lowest at 58.7%. The overall entrepreneurial mindset records an agreement level of 73%. The study highlights the importance of strengthening practical exposure, formal mentoring, incubation facilities and entrepreneurial networking to create a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem within higher education institutions.