Entrepreneurship education: Inspiration from the greatest entrepreneur

• Main Authors: Fakhrul Anwar, Zainol, Norliana, Abd Majid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: HB Economic Theory
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6519/1/FH02-FPP-19-31392.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6519/
• Institution: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

Purpose: Nowadays, young people are urged to avoid the expectation of wage employment due to the competition in working industry. Hence, entrepreneurship becomes crucial as the recourse to avoid unemployment among youth. However, the youth unemployment in Malaysia as reported by the International Labor Organization presents a surprising number of 237,400 persons. Indeed, only two percent of university graduates choose to become entrepreneur. The staggering situation raises the question about the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in shaping entrepreneurs. Build upon the statement that entrepreneurs can be formed, taught, and educated (Zaidatol Akmaliah, 2007), (F.Drucker, 1993); this research attempts to explore the concept of starting entrepreneurship education at an early age and depicts the aspects of entrepreneurship education in the Prophet Muhammad’s life, whom the Muslims describe as the greatest entrepreneur in the history of humanity. Design/methodology/approach: By revieweing the literature from various articles and books, this research uses secondary data to analyse the important elements of entreprenuership education and the impacts, based on the intention model to predict entrepreneurial behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) Findings: The findings show that an early teachings of entrepreneurship education in one’s life may cultivate remarkable entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and characteristics as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad. This research also indicates the importance of sowing Islamic tenets in entrepreneurial practices. Furthermore, the review of education concept adapts 3 important elements in entrepreneurship education; specifically receiver, content and method. Hence, this conceptual paper proposes knowledge as the significant antecedents to trigger entrepreneurial intention by specifying the involvement construct as a mediator. Research limitations/implications: This research only reviews the secondary sources, include articles and books. Future research is recommended to test the proposed framework by implementing an empirical research. Practical implications: Early entrepreneurship education is found to be crucial in cultivating entrepreneurial intention among young people by revealing knowledge as the pivotal antecedent to inculcate intention. Practically, the findings emphasize entrepreneurial intention as a key performance indicator (KPI) to measure the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education at the school level.Originality/value: This research proposes an Islamic Approach of Intention by exploring the entrepreneurship education approaches in Prophet Muhammad’s life; and delivers a conceptual framework in determining entrepreneurial intention to expand the Theory of Planned Behaviour.