The Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intention Among University Students: A Comparative Study Between Malaysia and Indonesia

Abstract

Entrepreneurship plays an important role in promoting economic growth, innovation, and graduate employability, particularly in developing economies. This study aims to examine the influence of entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on entrepreneurial intention among university students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 103 undergraduate students using a structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS through multiple regression analysis and independent samples t-tests. The results show that entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control have positive and significant effects on entrepreneurial intention, with perceived behavioural control emerging as the strongest predictor. The comparative analysis further indicates that there are no statistically significant differences between Malaysian and Indonesian students in terms of entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and entrepreneurial intention. The study concludes that students’ entrepreneurial intention is mainly shaped by psychological and social factors rather than the national context. These findings support the applicability of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and suggest that higher education institutions should strengthen entrepreneurship education by enhancing students’ positive attitudes, social support, and perceived entrepreneurial capabilities.