The entrepreneurial profile of university students. Differences in terms of gender, age and faculty. The case of the university of Alicante

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial profile of students at the University of Alicante by examining how specific entrepreneurial characteristics influence their future professional interests, and whether there are any differences across gender, age, and faculty.

Design/methodology: Data were collected from 1,013 undergraduate students at the University of Alicante through an online questionnaire, using a cross-sectional and correlational research design.

Findings: Students perceive themselves as possessing entrepreneurial skills. However, only 16.6% reported being willing to become entrepreneurs, with this percentage being significantly higher among men than among women. Although no significant differences in entrepreneurial interest were observed across age groups or faculties, variations were identified in certain traits related to self-perceived personal skills and organizational competencies. Specifically, older students reported greater confidence in their self-perceived entrepreneurial skills and capabilities, while students from the faculties of Economics and Law perceived themselves as having effective communication and negotiation skills. Additionally, men reported higher levels of self-perceived self-efficacy and negotiation skills, whereas women expressed greater confidence in their self-perceived teamwork skills.

Research limitations: The sample consists exclusively of students from the University of Alicante, and therefore the results cannot be generalized to a broader population. Moreover, given the non-experimental, cross-sectional, and comparative nature of the study, causal inferences cannot be drawn. Instead, the analysis only allows the identification of associations or differences between groups.

Practical implications: The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to foster entrepreneurial skills and interest among university students. Universities may use these insights to design training programs and extracurricular activities that specifically address the entrepreneurial skills students perceive as being underdeveloped.

Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by offering a detailed assessment of the entrepreneurial characteristics of university students in Alicante, paying particular attention to differences by gender, age, and academic faculty. Unlike prior research, it combines the analysis of self-perceived entrepreneurial skills with students’ future professional intentions, providing a more nuanced understanding of how individual traits and competencies relate to entrepreneurial aspirations within a higher education context.