Many graduates in Uganda do not embrace entrepreneurship as a career upon graduation, but instead seek paid employment. This is attributed to the entrepreneurial ecosystem at university and in society at large, as well as students’ negative attitudes toward entrepreneurship. This study examines the extent to which the entrepreneurial ecosystem influences graduate entrepreneurial intent in Uganda. Using a sequential exploratory research design, the study is conducted in two phases. Phase one involved a baseline survey to gauge students’ attitudes toward entrepreneurship using a convenience sample from three UCU campuses (N=200), followed by a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA approach to examine the entrepreneurial ecosystem in other East African countries. Further, a qualitative study was also conducted with administrative and teaching staff (N=30) and student leaders (N=8), plus a tracer study of former School of Business students (N=22). Findings reveal that teaching staff consider entrepreneurship an important subject, while students and some alumni view it as a risky career. In the ongoing second phase, qualitative data will be collected from teaching staff at universities across Uganda’s four regions (N=16), followed by a survey of university students (N=200) from each institution. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) will be used to analyze the data.
Dr. Isaac Katono – PI
Prof. William Kisaalita – Co-PI