Entrepreneurial Intention in Higher Education during COVID-19: Evidence of Stability and Comparability across Student Groups and Time
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| Title: | Entrepreneurial Intention in Higher Education during COVID-19: Evidence of Stability and Comparability across Student Groups and Time |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás (ORCID |
| Source: | Education & Training. 2026 68(4):657-685. |
| Availability: | Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Entrepreneurship, Intention, Higher Education, COVID-19, Pandemics, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Student Characteristics, Sex, Intellectual Disciplines, Institutional Characteristics, Time |
| Geographic Terms: | Portugal |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-09-2024-0422 |
| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to assess the measurement invariance of a short questionnaire assessing students' entrepreneurial intention (EI) over time and across key subgroups (gender, higher education institution (HEI) typology, course typology) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on data collected from undergraduate students enrolled in entrepreneurship modules at Portuguese HEIs during the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year. Findings: There is evidence of configural, metric and scalar invariance of the covariance structure of the 6-item scale of students' EI by gender, HEI typology and course typology, and over time (before and after entrepreneurship modules). In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings suggest that the 6-item scale of EI is psychometrically equivalent across key subgroups of entrepreneurship students in HEIs and over time. Practical implications: Although it is difficult to foster students' EI in a pandemic context, those responsible for higher education must be ready to introduce new pedagogical tools in future emergency situations. Originality/value: This study introduces a crisis-sensitive framework for entrepreneurial intention measurement that integrates contextualist, planned behaviour, and digital entrepreneurship perspectives. By theorising crisis-driven contextual convergence and platform-enabled homogenisation, it refines contextualist, planned behaviour, and digital entrepreneurship perspectives on intention stability under disruption and clarifies when EI comparisons remain psychometrically valid in turbulent environments. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1505995 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to assess the measurement invariance of a short questionnaire assessing students' entrepreneurial intention (EI) over time and across key subgroups (gender, higher education institution (HEI) typology, course typology) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on data collected from undergraduate students enrolled in entrepreneurship modules at Portuguese HEIs during the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year. Findings: There is evidence of configural, metric and scalar invariance of the covariance structure of the 6-item scale of students' EI by gender, HEI typology and course typology, and over time (before and after entrepreneurship modules). In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings suggest that the 6-item scale of EI is psychometrically equivalent across key subgroups of entrepreneurship students in HEIs and over time. Practical implications: Although it is difficult to foster students' EI in a pandemic context, those responsible for higher education must be ready to introduce new pedagogical tools in future emergency situations. Originality/value: This study introduces a crisis-sensitive framework for entrepreneurial intention measurement that integrates contextualist, planned behaviour, and digital entrepreneurship perspectives. By theorising crisis-driven contextual convergence and platform-enabled homogenisation, it refines contextualist, planned behaviour, and digital entrepreneurship perspectives on intention stability under disruption and clarifies when EI comparisons remain psychometrically valid in turbulent environments. |
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| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-09-2024-0422 |
