Self-efficacy, entrepreneurial intentions, and gender: Assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education longitudinally

This paper examines the role of entrepreneurship education in strengthening entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial intentions (EI). In addition, the nature of the relationship between ESE and students' intentions to pursue an entrepreneurial career is explored. Finally, the role of gender in moderating this relationship is tested. Data were collected at the beginning and the end of a semester-long, introductory entrepreneurship course. Findings show that while ESE increased for both groups, this increase was statistically significant only for the male students. In addition, while entrepreneurial intentions did not change in a statistically significant way for either gender subgroup, findings revealed a positive correlation between ESE and EI, showing this relationship to be moderated by gender. These findings suggest that gender must be integrated into any study of ESE and EI. Results also imply that current entrepreneurship education programs may not be effectively reaching females and may need to be redesigned. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.