Entrepreneurial orientation, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial behaviour of hospitality and tourism students in University of Cape Coast

Abstract

The importance and function of entrepreneurship in economic growth has led to the growing interest and desire for entrepreneurial research. Few studies have examined the entrepreneurial behaviour of students, especially in Ghana. The study was conducted to achieve this objective; it examined the influence of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on entrepreneurial behaviour among Hospitality and Tourism students of University of Cape Coast. This study was based on the Action Theory of Entrepreneurship. The research method used in this study employed crosssection research with quantitative approach. This study was a census so all hospitality and tourism undergraduate students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management were considered for this study. 374 respondents were used in data collection. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively and the structural equational modelling (SEM) technique was used to test the relationship in the model, using the SMART PLS tool. It was found that students had a high level of entrepreneurial orientation. However, less than half of the respondents agreed possessing entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In addition, it was found that there was no statistical significance between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial behaviour. But, entrepreneurial self-efficacy is positively and significantly affecting entrepreneurial behaviour. Thus, it is advocated that, in the future, the Hospitality and Tourism Department should prioritize providing students with more authentic entrepreneurial experiences in their study.