Inspiring future entrepreneurs: The effect of experiential learning on the entrepreneurial intention at higher education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to measure the influence of experiential learning on the entrepreneurial intention at higher education. To enable the research to measure experiential learning, the researchers used three dimensions as independent factors (empirical learning, Cognitive loading, and Self-efficacy) and on the other hand entrepreneurial intention at higher education as dependent factor. The study was carried out at private universities in Erbil. The researchers employed quantitative research method via adapting questionnaire from academic source and publish it online to gather information from participants. The questionnaire was distributed randomly among 120 academic and administrative staffs of private universities. The participants of the present study were 103 participants from different private universities in Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study developed three research hypotheses, the findings revealed that, as for the first research hypothesis found that an empirical Learning strongly predicts entrepreneurial intention, implying that empirical Learning would have a clear beneficial relationship with entrepreneurial intention. As for the second research hypothesis, it was found that a cognitive loading strongly predicts entrepreneurial intention, implying that cognitive loading would have a clear beneficial relationship with entrepreneurial intention, and lastly as for the third research hypothesis, it was found that self-efficacystrongly predicts entrepreneurial intention, implying that Floatationwould have a clear beneficial relationship with entrepreneurial intention.