Rethinking Entrepreneurial Education: The Role of Digital Technologies to Assess Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Intention of STEM Students

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed restrictions and social distancing requirements that limited face-to-face education. However, the challenge of continuing studies, albeit in an online environment, promoted the redesign of teaching models, thanks to the availability of digital technologies such as MOOCs, gamification, and digital platforms. The aim of this study is to analyze if students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention can be achieved through an online designed and delivered entrepreneurial course, as in face-to-face entrepreneurial education, and whether digital technologies are helpful in pursuing this goal. Data from a sample of 210 engineering students enrolled in an online entrepreneurship course having a duration of 16 weeks revealed a positive impact of digital technologies adoption on students' self-efficacy and intention in launching a novel entrepreneurial venture. Practical implications concern insights about entrepreneurship education programs’ learning strategies that need to be redesigned, with the adoption of ad hoc digital tools to support projects and business plan development. Finally, the study proposes managerial and policy implications for improving the inclusion of digital tools for enhancing University students' entrepreneurship education in the digital era.