Entrepreneurial attributes and the mediating role of psychological capital on entrepreneurial intention among hospitality students in Malaysian public higher education institutions (PHEIS) / Nur Azah Farhana Mohamed Fadzil

Strengthening entrepreneurship education by cultivating entrepreneurial values to enhance the marketability of graduates is considered relevant as a strategy to improve the employability of hospitality students in public higher learning. Aligned with the issues, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education has endorsed entrepreneurship education in all higher education institutions as an initiative to encourage students to enrol in entrepreneurship courses and activities. Therefore, this study investigates entrepreneurial attributes and the mediating role of psychological capital on entrepreneurial intention among Malaysian hospitality students. A quantitative study was implemented via an online survey in five (5) Malaysia's Public Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs), which then resulted in a final sample of 297 respondents. An established self-completed questionnaire was collected. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) software was used to analyse the obtained data structuring through probability sampling, using a simple random sampling technique. This study indicated that the dimensions of entrepreneurial attributes and psychological capital significantly influence students' entrepreneurial intention. Findings also revealed that psychological capital as the positive psychological development of an individual allows education providers to ensure students obtain the necessary attributes to function effectively. This verifies that psychological capital affects individuals in learning entrepreneurship, which can be emphasised by the PHEIs in preparing the students to be more confident for future entrepreneurial careers.