Economic Themes (2025) 63 (4) 3, 431-450
Sandra Milanović Zbiljić, Biljana Đorđević, Marija Radosavljević
Abstract: This paper examines how entrepreneurship education shapes the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Serbia using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a conceptual framework. The study aimed to test whether personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions. Data were collected from 445 students of the University of Niš by using the snowball sampling technique. Using factor analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation modelling, the research confirmed that entrepreneurship education significantly enhances students' attitudes and perceived behavioural control, which in turn strongly predict entrepreneurial intentions, while subjective norms showed no positive effect. The findings demonstrate the practical relevance of experiential, practice-oriented programmes for strengthening self-efficacy and pro-entrepreneurial attitudes. The study contributes originality by providing empirical evidence from a transitional economy where entrepreneurship is between necessity and opportunity-driven career choice, highlighting cognitive pathways rather than social approval as key mechanisms. This offers valuable guidance for educators and policy makers seeking to design more effective curricula and support measures that develop entrepreneurial skills, confidence and opportunity-oriented mindsets.
Keywords: entrepreneurial intentions; entrepreneurship education; Theory of Planned Behaviour; university students; transitional economy
PREDICTING ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION: A THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR-BASED ANALYSIS
Sandra Milanović Zbiljić, Biljana Đorđević, Marija Radosavljević
Abstract: This paper examines how entrepreneurship education shapes the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Serbia using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a conceptual framework. The study aimed to test whether personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions. Data were collected from 445 students of the University of Niš by using the snowball sampling technique. Using factor analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation modelling, the research confirmed that entrepreneurship education significantly enhances students' attitudes and perceived behavioural control, which in turn strongly predict entrepreneurial intentions, while subjective norms showed no positive effect. The findings demonstrate the practical relevance of experiential, practice-oriented programmes for strengthening self-efficacy and pro-entrepreneurial attitudes. The study contributes originality by providing empirical evidence from a transitional economy where entrepreneurship is between necessity and opportunity-driven career choice, highlighting cognitive pathways rather than social approval as key mechanisms. This offers valuable guidance for educators and policy makers seeking to design more effective curricula and support measures that develop entrepreneurial skills, confidence and opportunity-oriented mindsets.
Keywords: entrepreneurial intentions; entrepreneurship education; Theory of Planned Behaviour; university students; transitional economy
