ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTENTION IN AN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL) INSTITUTION IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Higher education providers in Malaysia realized and recognized the need to have the knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship among graduates. The Ministry of Education in Malaysia has suggested including entrepreneurship as a course in higher learning institutions with the hope of fostering local entrepreneurs among graduates because it realized the vital role of entrepreneurship in contributing to national economic growth and job creation. Entrepreneurship education has become an important curriculum in all higher education institutions in Malaysia since the establishment of The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development in 1995. Entrepreneurship has been made one of the core subjects for most tertiary programs in Malaysia. The course Entrepreneurship in higher education institutions in Malaysia has become an essential component for cultivating potential entrepreneurs in higher learning institutions. This study is conducted to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurship intention among ODL learners using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicate significant influences of attitude and perceived behavioral control in entrepreneurship intention among adult learners in ODL institutions. These findings would benefit educators in helping learners develop their abilities and skills to produce a higher number of entrepreneurs in Malaysia.