Factors related to Entrepreneurial Intention among Engineering Graduates in Thai universities: Gender and Type of University Differences

This research aims to study the gender and universities type differences in factors of attitude, self-efficacy, social norm, entrepreneurial network relations and entrepreneurship policy that affect the entrepreneurial intention. The sample consisted of 420 questionnaires in undergraduate engineering students from 8 public and private universities in Thailand. The conceptual framework adapted from the Theory of Planned Behavior. The result showed that gender for male more confidence to start their own business than female by mean 3.97 versus mean 3.89. in factor SelfEfficacy, which has statistically significant in SEF9. Social Norms also statistically significant differences in SOC13 and SOC14, as male higher than female by mean 3.58 versus mean 3.24 (SCO13) and mean 3.82 versus mean 3.70 (SOC14). Type of Science and technology universities slightly higher than comprehensive universities with mean 3.87 compared to mean 3.84. Regression analysis found that the most impactful factors as Entrepreneurship Policy (58%) followed by Self-Efficacy (54%) and Entrepreneurial Network Relations (46%) In addition, an exciting finding in Self- efficacy that females only 38.58% as lower than male with mean 3.89 to mean 3.97, but they have the same self-awareness as male, which interesting issue for curriculum development and promote female entrepreneurship potential in the future.