Entrepreneurship Education, Personality Traits, and Entrepreneurial Intention of Engineering Students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Kenya

Abstract

This study proposes that entrepreneurship education affects entrepreneurial intention through the moderating role of personality traits. The study adopted the hierarchical regression analysis to examine the hypothesis. The study population comprised 265 students taking engineering courses at diploma level in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions in Kenya. A total of 239 valid questionnaires, representing 90% of the sample, were fully filled in and analyzed. The results revealed that personality traits moderate the effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention. This study contributes to knowledge by addressing research gaps in previous studies regarding the direct effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention. Second, by reporting moderating role of personality traits on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention, the research proposes the need to align entrepreneurship education curriculum by taking cognizance of individuals’ personality traits.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial intention, mediating effect