Linkages between entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education: new evidence on the gender imbalance

Purpose Embracing the theories of gender role and career socialization, this study focuses on young adults and explores gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education. Design/methodology/approach Based on 203 young adults, this study employs a logistic regression model to test hypothesis 1 regarding differences in gender. In addition, it performs an analysis of variance using the two groups of young adults with and without academic entrepreneurship education to detect differences in entrepreneurial intentions between men (hypothesis 2) and women (hypothesis 3). Findings The empirical findings from a European country trailing in university-level entrepreneurship education confirm the dominant evidence that young women have lower entrepreneurial intentions than young men. In addition, women's proclivity toward entrepreneurship is lower with academic entrepreneurship education than without. Originality/value This study provides new evidence from Greece, which has few studies on entrepreneurship education at the tertiary level. Scholars are advised to keep track of the new pathway exploring linkages between gender, entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education. Policymakers in Europe are encouraged to establish an approach of tailoring university courses to their students. Currently, society will benefit from entrepreneurship education curricula targeting young women based on their particular needs and interests, while nurturing their entrepreneurial intentions.