ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IMPACTING FEMALE STUDENTS’ ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION

Entrepreneurship has been a topic of interest for over a century. Worldwide, the phenomenon is acknowledged as a source for economic growth and development. Since the late nineteenth century countries perceive female entrepreneurs as forces of economic growth and development through new product or service development and stimulation of employment. Female entrepreneurship, in developing countries is regarded as a solution to unemployment and poverty among the youth, specifically where graduates cannot find employment. However, the emergence of entrepreneurial intention amongst these females are not spontaneous but impacted by various task and general environmental factors. As such, the aim of this study was to determine the environmental factors impacting South African and Netherlands female students’ intention towards entrepreneurship. And to investigate whether these impacting factors differ between female students of different countries and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). A descriptive research design approach was followed. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the data from a convenience sample of 578 female students. The collected data were analysed using reliability and validity analysis, descriptive statistics analysis and one-way ANOVA. The results indicated significant differences between the environmental impact factors of the two countries. The findings make an important contribution in that it will help national and local governments and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on implementing initiatives to alleviate environmental impacts on these looming entrepreneurial ventures. The study recommend that government and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should create a favourable environment for female students and to assist them to be employment creators, rather than employment seekers. Ultimately, contributing to economic growth and development by reducing high unemployment and poverty.