Entrepreneurial education, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial intention of Bangladeshi engineering students: Is perceived behavioral control the missing link?

Although the relationship between entrepreneurial education (EE) and entrepreneurial intentions (EI) is gaining attention in Bangladesh, the indirect effect of EE and self-efficacy (SE) on EI through perceived behavioral control (PBC) remains underexplored, particularly among engineering students. This study aims to examine the causal relationships between EE, SE, PBC, and EI, with a focus on PBC as a mediator between the EE-EI and SE-EI links. Data were collected from 200 engineering students across three higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh. The proposed model was evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Smart PLS version 4. The findings indicate that both EE and SE are strong predictors of PBC, which, in turn, is positively related to EI. Furthermore, PBC mediates the relationships between EE and EI, as well as SE and EI. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting the mediating role of PBC in the associations among EE, SE, and EI within Bangladeshi HEIs. The study is distinct in its focus on engineering students, contrasting with prior research primarily centered on business students. By utilizing variance-based SEM, it provides novel perspectives on the positive indirect effects of EE and SE on EI in academic settings.