Influence of Gender on Entrepreneurial Intentions of Business Administration Students of Uganda Christian University, Mukono

Abstract

This study studied the effect of gender on the entrepreneurial intentions of third-year business administration students at Uganda Christian University. It specifically focused on four major objectives which include, to examine the differences in attitudes towards entrepreneurship between male and female business administration students at Uganda Christian university, to investigate the subjective norms surrounding entrepreneurship among male and female business administration students, including the influence of family, friends, society, and faculty advisors, to assess the perceived behavioural control over entrepreneurial intentions among male and female business administration students, focusing on their confidence in starting and managing a successful business and access to resources and to explore the relationship between gender and entrepreneurial intentions, examining the level of interest in becoming an entrepreneur for male and female students. The study adopted a cross – sectional survey research design, both qualitative and quantitative study approaches were used, sample size was 30 participants who were chosen using purposive and simple random sampling and were served close and open ended questionnaires. Emanating from the results was that there were differences in attitudes towards entrepreneurship between male and female Business Administration students at Uganda Christian University with females more strongly in agreement with the statements about attitudes towards entrepreneurship than males apart from the statement on “Entrepreneurship involves too much risk for me”. In addition, the subjective norms surrounding entrepreneurship among male and female Business Administration students at Uganda Christian University were; family's encouragement and support, friends' opinions about entrepreneurship, society's perception of entrepreneurs and faculty and advisors' encouragement towards entrepreneurship. Likewise, it was established that more males (46.7%) compared to females (26.7%) were positively influenced by independence and freedom. Besides, more females (40.0%) compared to males (33.3%) were positively influenced by opportunity to innovate and create. On the other hand, more males (33.3%) compared to females (66.7%) were positively influenced by desire to be your own boss. Furthermore, more females (86.7%) compared to males (40.0%) were positively influenced by potential for higher financial rewards. Additionally, more males were positively influenced by passion for a specific business idea (60.0%) compared to females who were influenced at a lesser percentage of (46.7%). Finally, it was established that more females than males noted that gender does not play a role in influencing attitudes towards entrepreneurship among students. The study recommends UCU to always organize workshops and seminars that specifically address gender-related challenges in entrepreneurship. These events can cover topics like work-life balance, accessing capital, overcoming gender biases, and building a support network.