DEVELOPING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING AMONG ENGINEERING STUDENTS AT DONG NAI TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This study addresses how engineering students perceive their  entrepreneurial Thinking (ET) development during their University studies. Is the development of ET due to the incorporation of ET-based projects and activities into their curricula, or is it achieved through students’ participation in extracurricular activities? Alternatively, ET development may be due to students cultivating ET  through work or internship. Therefore, this study seeks to address the following research questions: “What types of experiences contribute to students’ ET development?  what ET elements do students perceive through these experiences?” The study included a qualitative analysis of interview data with engineering students to identify the experiences that contributed to their ET development, as well as the specific ET characteristics emphasized in these experiences. The study involved 24 undergraduate engineering students, this study employed semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. The findings indicate that curriculum-based experiences were most frequently perceived by students as influential in developing entrepreneurial thinking, while off-campus internships also played a significant complementary role. By understanding students' perceptions of how they develop their ET, this study provides insights to identify best practices for future student ET development.