Determinants of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Intentions among Engineering and Management Students in Odisha

Santanu Kumar Das; Manas Pandey, Professor and Head

doi:10.21844/smsjei.v12i01.30008

Santanu Kumar Das P.G. Department of Management Studies, Roland Institute of Technology, Affiliated to BPUT, Surya Vihar , Golanthara. Berhampur, Odisha, India.
Manas Pandey, Professor and Head Department of Business Economics & Business Management, Faculty of Management Studies, Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21844/smsjei.v12i01.30008

Keywords: Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Intention, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Environmental Awareness, Institutional Support

Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainability in the global landscape has significantly transformed
entrepreneurial ecosystems, compelling emerging entrepreneurial leaders to integrate environmental and
social concerns into their business ventures. This study examines the key factors influencing the intention of
engineering and management students in Odisha, India, to pursue sustainable entrepreneurship. Grounded
in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study incorporates sustainability-related variables to assess
how attitude toward sustainability, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, environmental
awareness, and institutional support affect sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. A structured
questionnaire was administered to 300 students from leading professional institutions in Odisha. The
collected data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings reveal that attitude toward
sustainability, perceived behavioral control, and institutional supports are strong predictors of sustainable
entrepreneurship intention, while subjective norms play a moderate role. The results highlight the
importance of a supportive institutional ecosystem and eco-innovation–oriented systems in fostering
sustainable entrepreneurship. The study concludes with policy and educational recommendations aimed at
strengthening a sustainability-driven entrepreneurial culture among youth in Odisha.