Entrepreneurial Intentions among Business Students in Gandaki Province

In Nepal, entrepreneurship is being advocated as a path to economic resilience and job creation. However, little is known about the psychological processes through which personal characteristics and environmental resources influence entrepreneurial intention. The study examined the influence of three foundational factors on entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial intention (EI), as well as the mediating role of ESE.  The study surveyed 556 final-year undergraduate and graduate business students purposively from higher educational institutions in Gandaki Province, Nepal.  Data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0.  The findings revealed that all three foundational factors have a significant influence on ESE and EI. Similarly, ESE mediated the relationship between the foundation factors and EI. The relationship between foundational characteristics and EI is partially mediated by ESE. Practically, the findings offer practical implications for curriculum designers, training program developers, and policymakers seeking to strengthen entrepreneurial capacity among Nepalese business students.