International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

search-icon

Entrepreneurial Attributes and Entrepreneurial Intention among Hospitality Students in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions: An Educational Approach

Open access
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the employability of recent graduates is one of the primary worries expressed by academics. However, assessing the entrepreneurial qualities among undergraduate students seems like an initial effort that may enhance career opportunities and marketability. Given the significance of entrepreneurship to a nation’s economic growth, it’s crucial to begin instilling entrepreneurial values from a young age which can lead to the readiness to become an entrepreneur for employment after graduation. This research aims to explore the significance of entrepreneurial attributes on entrepreneurial intention among Malaysian hospitality students in their last year of study. This study adopted a quantitative method and conducted an online survey on 297 hospitality undergraduates from five (5) Malaysian public higher education institutions (PHEIs). The establishment and collection of self-completion questionnaires was followed by the usage of SPSS to conduct different inferential analyses. According to the findings, opportunity recognition was the most important entrepreneurial attribute for hospitality undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention. Concurrently, the data demonstrated that environmental influences have a substantial implication on students’ entrepreneurial intentions. The findings reinforced entrepreneurial characteristics among hospitality students have a substantial effect on their aspiration to become entrepreneurs. Thus, this study may offer a feasible suggestion for the PHEIs and the hospitality sector on hospitality undergraduates’ entrepreneurial behavior. Lastly, this study could also serve as a reference for managing the employability of hospitality graduates in the future.
Abuzhuri, N. M., & Hashim, N. B. (2017). The role of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition on relationship among entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial career option. European Journal of Business and Management, 9(30), 99–106.
Acheampong, G., & Tweneboah-koduah, E. Y. (2017). Does past failure inhibit future entrepreneurial intent? Evidence from Ghana. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 25(5), 849–863. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-03-2017-0128
Ahmad, R., Rashid, B., & Shariff, N. M. (2014). Malaysian hospitality industry: graduates’ justification for leaving the industry. International Journal of Management Studies, 21(2), 1–20.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behavior. 50(2), 179–211.
https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Albert Bandura. (1977). Social learning theory, a book review. Group & Organization Studies, 2(3), 384–388.
Antoncic, J. A., Antoncic, B., Gantar, M., Hisrich, R. D., Marks, L. J., Bachkirov, A. A., Li, Z., Polzin, P., Borges, J. L., Coelho, A., & Kakkonen, M.-L. (2018). Risk-Taking Propensity and Entrepreneurship?: The Role of Power Distance. Enterprising Culture, 26(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218495818500012
Asimakopoulos, G., Hernández, V., & Miguel, J. P. (2019). Entrepreneurial Intention of Engineering Students?: The Role of Social Norms and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy. Sustainability, 11(16), 4314. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11164314
Aynalem, S., Birhanu, K., & Tesefay, S. (2016). Employment Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality Sectors. Journal of Tourism & Hospitality, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0269.1000257
Bacq, S., & Alt, E. (2018). Feeling capable and valued: A prosocial perspective on the link between empathy and social entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 33(3), 333–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2018.01.004
Bergner, R. M. (2011). What is behavior? And so what? New Ideas in Psychology, 29(2), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2010.08.001
Che Embi, N. A., Jaiyeoba, H. B., & Yussof, S. A. (2019). The effects of students’ entrepreneurial characteristics on their propensity to become entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Education and Training, 61(7–8), 1020–1037. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-11-2018-0229
Dai, L., Maksimov, V., Anitra, B., & Fernhaber, S. A. (2014). Entrepreneurial orientation and international scope?: The differential roles of innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking. Journal of Business Venturing, 29(4), 511–524.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2013.07.004
Daniel, A. D., Costa, R. A., Pita, M., & Costa, C. (2017). Tourism Education: What about entrepreneurial skills? Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 30, 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2017.01.002
Davlembayeva, D., Papagiannidis, S., & Alamanos, E. (2020). Technological Forecasting & Social Change Sharing economy?: Studying the social and psychological factors and the outcomes of social exchange. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 158(March), 120143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120143
Ezeuduji, I. O., & Ntshangase, S. D. (2017). Entrepreneurial Intention: South African Youth’s Willingness to Start Tourism Businesses. Acta Universitatis Danubius: Oeconomica, 13(5), 48–58.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=126203870&site=ehost-live
Fayolle, A., Liñán, F., & Moriano, J. A. (2014). Beyond entrepreneurial intentions: values and motivations in entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 10(4), 679–689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-014-0306-7
Ferreira, J. J., Fernandes, C. I., & Ratten, V. (2016). The Influence of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions. Entrepreneurial Universities, 19–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47949-1_2
Fraser, B. (2019). From Hospitality Classrooms to Successful Careers: A Current Appraisal of Australian International Hotel Requirements. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2019.1688161
Fu, H., Okumus, F., Wu, K., & Köseoglu, M. A. (2019). The entrepreneurship research in hospitality and tourism. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 78(September 2018), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.10.005
Grecu, V., & Denes, C. (2017). Benefits of entrepreneurship education and training for engineering students. MATEC Web of Conferences, 121, 1–7.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201712112007
Gürol, Y., & Atsan, N. (2006). Entrepreneurial characteristics amongst university students?: Some insights for entrepreneurship education and training in Turkey. Education and Training, 48(1), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910610645716
Hamiruce. (2018). How Do Universities Welcome Industry 4.0? Malaysia Board of Technologists. https://www.mbot.org.my/MBOT/files/13/136c4e63-8f2f-4d98-9951-69c96316ca46.pdf
Harian Metro. (2019). 60 peratus siswazah menganggur lepas pengajian | Harian Metro. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2019/10/507317/60-peratus-siswazah-menganggur-lepas-pengajian
Harinie, L. T., Sudiro, A., Rahayu, M., & Fatchan, A. (2017). Study of the Bandura’s Social Cognitive Learning Theory for the Entrepreneurship Learning Process. Social Sciences, 6(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20170601.11
Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C., Barbosa, D., Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C., Barbosa, D., Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C., & Barbosa, D. (2017). Entrepreneurial intentions of Colombian business students. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 23(6), 1017–1032.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0031
Horng, J., Hsiao, H., Liu, C., & Chou, S. (2020). Learning innovative entrepreneurship?: Developing an influential curriculum for undergraduate hospitality students. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 24, 100–109.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2020.100289
Hossain, M. I., Yagamaran, K. S. A., Afrin, T., Limon, N., Nasiruzzaman, M., & Karim, A. M. (2018). Factors Influencing Unemployment among Fresh Graduates: A Case Study in Klang Valley, Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(9), 1494–1507. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v8-i9/4859
Hussain, K., Ragavan, N. A., Ming, V. T. T., & Loong, C. L. K. (2020). Conclusion: how is Malaysian hospitality and tourism education working with industry? Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, ahead-of-p(ahead-of-print).
https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-12-2019-0084
Ibidunni, A. S., Mozie, D., & Ayeni, A. W. A. A. (2020). Entrepreneurial characteristics amongst university students: insights for understanding entrepreneurial intentions amongst youths in a developing economy. Education and Training. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-09-2019-0204
Ibrahim, M. Z. F., Saber, J. M., Mustapha, R. I. P. R., Othman, N., & Salim, A. (2020). Factor affecting university undergraduates students perception’s toward career enhancement in hospitality industry: a case of UiTM Penang. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(2014), 19–26. http://ejssh.uitm.edu.my
Iuliana, C., Maria, C., Iordache, & Alexandrina, S. (2016). Entrepreneurship In The Tourism And Hospitality Industry. Management Strategies Journal, 31(1), 264–275. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?um=1&ie=UTF-8&lr&q=related:VvxRNpWzGsGJuM:scholar.google.com/
Karimi, S., Biemans, H. J. A., Lans, T., Chizari, M., Mulder, M., & Building. (2014). Iranian Students ’ Entrepreneurial Intentions and Opportunity Identification. Journal OfSmall Business Management, 54, 187–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12137
Kusumawardhana, I. (2020). Curriculum Development in Hospitality and Tourism Higher Education: challenges and gaps. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.13-2-2019.2286505
Li, Y., Huang, S. (Sam), & Song, L. (2020). Opportunity and necessity entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector: Examining the institutional environment influences. Tourism Management Perspectives, 34(October 2019).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100665
Li, Y. Q., & Liu, C. H. (2016). How to establish a creative atmosphere in tourism and hospitality education in the context of China. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, 18, 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2015.11.001
Lim, J. (2020, April 3). Malaysia unemployment rate expected to hit 4% this year due to Covid-19. Theedgemarkets.Com. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-unemployment-rate-expected-hit-4-year-due-covid19
Mahfud, T., Triyono, M. B., Sudira, P., & Mulyani, Y. (2020). The influence of social capital and entrepreneurial attitude orientation on entrepreneurial intentions: the mediating role of psychological capital. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 26(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2019.12.005
Malay Mail. (2020, January 13). Whose problem is graduate unemployment in Malaysia? Experts weigh in. Bernama.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/01/13/whose-problem-is-graduate-unemployment-in-malaysia-experts-weigh-in/1827627
Maresch, D., Harms, R., Kailer, N., & Wimmer-wurm, B. (2016). The impact of entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial intention of students in science and engineering versus business studies university programs. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 104, 172–179.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.11.006
Misni, F., Nik Mahmood, N. H., & Jamil, R. (2020). The effect of curriculum design on the employability competency of Malaysian graduates. Management Science Letters, 10(4), 909–914. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2019.10.005
MOE. (2018). Laporan Kajian Pengesanan Graduan 2018. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia Putrajaya, 101. https://www.moe.gov.my/en/muat-turun/laporan-dan-statistik/pendidikan-tinggi/laporan-kajian-pengesanan-graduan/2018-11
Muskat, B., Lockstone-Binney, L., Ong, F., & Andresen, M. (2019). Talent in hospitality entrepreneurship: A conceptualization and research agenda. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(10), 3899–3918.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-10-2018-0867
Niammuad, D., Napompech, K., & Suwanmaneepong, S. (2014). The mediating effect of opportunity recognition on incubated - Entrepreneurial innovation. International Journal of Innovation Management, 18(3), 1440005.
https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919614400052
Ntshangase, S. D., & Ezeuduju, I. O. (2020). Profiling entrepreneurial attributes based on the level of formal education: The case of Mtubatuba Local Municipality in South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure, 9(1).
https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.31302-525
Nwokolo, E. E. (2018). Curbing unemployment challenges among university graduates through entrepreneurship education and training in South Africa. Journal of Social Sciences, 54(1–3), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.31901/24566756.2018/54.1-3.2221
Ojiaku, O. C., Nkamnebe, A. D., & Nwaizugbo, I. C. (2018). Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among young graduates: perspectives of push-pull-mooring model. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 8(24), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-018-0109-3
Popescu, C. C., Bostan, I., Robu, I., Maxim, A., & Maxim, L. D. (2016). An Analysis of the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intentions among Students?: A Romanian Case Study. Sustainability, 8(8), 771–793. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080771
Puad, M. H. M. (2016). The role of employability skills training programs in the workforce of Malaysia. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 77(1-A(E)), No-Specified.
http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=psyc13a&NEWS=N&AN=2016-26522-201
Pusiran, A. K., Janin, Y., Ismail, S., & Dalinting, L. J. (2020). Hospitality internship program insights. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes., ahead-of-p(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-12-2019-0079
Rae, D., & Woodier-Harris, N. R. (2013). How does enterprise and entrepreneurship education influence postgraduate students’ career intentions in the New Era economy? Education and Training, 55(8–9), 926–948. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2013-0095
Sani, R. (2019). Are our students ready for the IR4.0 workplace? New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/education/2019/10/526409/are-our-students-ready-ir40-workplace
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2013). Research methods for business: A skill building approach.
Shi, Y., Yuan, T., Bell, R., & Wang, J. (2020). Investigating the Relationship Between Creativity and Entrepreneurial Intention?: The Moderating Role of Creativity in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(June), 1–12.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01209
Sitheravellu, C. S. (2019, November 25). Graduates losing out due to skills mismatch. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/11/542069/graduates-losing-out-due-skills-mismatch
Sobakinova, D., Zhou, Y., & Aureaar, K. A. A. (2019). Self-efficacy, opportunity recognition and business ideas. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1145/3345035.3345079
Song, G., Min, S., Lee, S., & Seo, Y. (2017). The effects of network reliance on opportunity recognition?: A moderated mediation model of knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurial orientation. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 117(C), 98–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.01.004
Tang, K. N. (2019). Innovate higher education to enhance graduate employability. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 27(3), 1727–1738.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429058899
Tay, L., & Jebb, A. T. (2017). Scale Development. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology(2nd Ed.), July.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305462834_Scale_%0ADevelopment
Tolkach, D., & Tung, V. W. S. (2019). Tracing hospitality and tourism graduates’ career mobility. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(10), 4170–4187. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-10-2018-0857
Tsai, K., Chang, H., & Peng, C.-Y. (2016). Refining the linkage between perceived capability and entrepreneurial intention: roles of perceived opportunity, fear of failure, and gender. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 12(4), 1127–1145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-016-0383-x
Usman, B., & Yennita. (2019). Understanding the entrepreneurial intention among international students in Turkey. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-018-0136-0
Wang, Y., Ellinger, A. D., & Wu, Y. J. (2013). Entrepreneurial opportunity recognition?: an empirical study of R & D personnel. 51(2), 248–266.
https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741311301803
Yoopetch, C. (2020). Women empowerment , attitude toward risk-taking and entrepreneurial intention in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, July. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-01-2020-0016
Zhang, S., Li, Y., Liu, C., & Ruan, W. (2020). Critical factors identification and prediction of tourism and hospitality students ’ entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 26(May 2019), 100234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2019.100234.
In-Text Citation: (Fadzil et al., 2022)
To Cite this Article: Fadzil, N. A. F. M., Fuza, Z. I. M., & Kamarudin, W. N. B. W. (2022). Entrepreneurial Attributes and Entrepreneurial Intention among Hospitality Students in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions: An Educational Approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(8), 794– 809.