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The impact of a STEM-based entrepreneurship program on the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female students

Author

Listed:
  • Mojtaba Shahin

    (Monash University)

  • Olivia Ilic

    (Monash University)

  • Christabel Gonsalvez

    (Monash University)

  • Jon Whittle

    (CSIRO’s Data61)

Abstract

Despite dedicated effort and research in the last two decades, the entrepreneurship field is still limited by little evidence-based knowledge of the impacts of entrepreneurship programs on the entrepreneurial intention of students in pre-university levels of study. Further, gender equity continues to be an issue in the entrepreneurial sector, particularly in STEM-focused entrepreneurship. In this context, this study was designed to explore the effects of a one-day female-focused STEM-based entrepreneurship program (for brevity, we call it the OzGirlsEntrepreneurship program) on the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female students. The study collected data from two surveys completed by 193 secondary school female students, aged 14–16 years, who participated in the OzGirlsEntrepreneurship program. This program encouraged girls to develop and implement creative computational solutions to socially relevant problems, with an Internet of Things (IoT) component using the micro:bit device. The findings reveal that a key factor in the development of entrepreneurial attitudes in young female students is associated with soft-skills development, particularly in the areas of creative thinking, risk-taking, problem-solving, and leadership development. The importance of meaningful human connections, including positive role modelling and peer to peer learning were also important factors in fostering entrepreneurial intent. With these factors in mind, our findings highlight that the OzGirlsEntrepreneurship program substantially increased the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female students. In addition, this study offers actionable implications and recommendations to develop and deliver entrepreneurship education programs for secondary school level students.

Suggested Citation

  • Mojtaba Shahin & Olivia Ilic & Christabel Gonsalvez & Jon Whittle, 2021. "The impact of a STEM-based entrepreneurship program on the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female students," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1867-1898, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:17:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11365-020-00713-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11365-020-00713-7
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    2. António Porfírio, José & Augusto Felício, José & Carrilho, Tiago & Jardim, Jacinto, 2023. "Promoting entrepreneurial intentions from adolescence: The influence of entrepreneurial culture and education," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    3. Claudia McLaughlin Ludwig & Rebecca A. Howsmon & Shelley Stromholt & Jacob J. Valenzuela & Rachel Calder & Nitin S. Baliga, 2024. "Consequential insights for advancing informal STEM learning and outcomes for students from historically marginalized communities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Ángel Acevedo-Duque & Romel Gonzalez-Diaz & Elena Cachicatari Vargas & Anherys Paz-Marcano & Sheyla Muller-Pérez & Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda & Giulia Caruso & Idiano D’Adamo, 2021. "Resilience, Leadership and Female Entrepreneurship within the Context of SMEs: Evidence from Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Uma Shankar Yadav & Ravindra Tripathi & Mano Ashish Tripathi & Ashish Kumar & Mitu Mandal, 2023. "Evaluation of factors affecting entrepreneurship: a case of Indian women in the handicraft industry," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.

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