1MBA, M. Com, PhD Dean, International Affairs & Professor of Management, Department of Commerce and Management Studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
2Research Scholar, Management Department Business and Economics Faculty, Mettu University, Mettu, Ethiopia
Globally unemployment is a big issue which needs remedy. The problem among the others can be alleviated by setting up new businesses. Business starting up behavior can, in turn, be predicted by business startup intention. However, business starting up intention and barriers to it are less researched in developing country's’ context specifically in Ethiopia. Hence, the general purpose of the study was to investigate the business start up intention of university graduated students and to identify factors that likely impede them from starting their own business. Data was collected from 79(75%) students who were graduated by June 2015 academic year with the help of interview and questionnaire; analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS software and presented in tables and pie-charts. The research findings showed that three out of five students have an intention to start business in the future. But, not immediately after graduation mainly due to perceived lack of personal entrepreneurial competencies as well as finance. In addition, they lacked personal business experiences and support from their families and friends. However, gender shows statistically insignificant effects on entrepreneurial intention. To enhance the entrepreneurial spirit of university graduates, it is imperative to practically teach and train students regarding personal entrepreneurial competencies. Furthermore, entrepreneurship promotion is invaluable and should be given greater attention in higher level education.
Entrepreneurial Intention, Ethiopia, Mettu University, Students
