The Effect of Entrepreneurial Support Provided by Higher Applied Science System in Agriculture on Entrepreneurial Behavior: The Structural Equation Modeling Approach

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extends entrepreneurial support is provided by University of Applied Science among a stratified random sample of agricultural students (n = 150) in Kermanshah Province. Results indicated that students preferred university support in the area of marketing, customer retention, and financial support in starting a small venture. Results also revealed that these supports are not provided by university officials. In addition, there was a significant difference between current level of support and optimum level of support provided by university officials. Finally, the proposed model fitted the data with acceptable fit indices. In other words, entrepreneurial support predicted entrepreneurial intention through attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. The result of this study has implication for university entrepreneurship centers. For example, developing creative ideas to university incubators, inviting successful entrepreneurs to the classroom, encouraging local investors, inviting successful entrepreneurs and local investors to classrooms, visiting successful entrepreneurship ventures, and training post-launch phase of entrepreneurship is recommended.