Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Saudi University Students Abroad & their Perceptions of the Saudi Arabian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Abstract

This research explored Entrepreneurial Intention of Saudi Arabian university students abroad and their awareness of the initiatives taking place in the Kingdom to further develop the Entrepreneur Ecosystem. Furthermore, it explored their intent to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the Saudi state when tested against foreign, matured and developed ecosystems. This was achieved through a survey that consisted of Likert-scale and categorical responses. These were based on the Babson Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strategy and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor frameworks outlining key factors of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and behavioural factors. Ordinal Least Squares and Ordered Logistic Regression analysis was conducted to create explanatory models for the dependent variables gauging respondent intention to deploy Entrepreneurial Intention in the Saudi state, perceptions of the Saudi Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and preference of the Saudi Entrepreneurial Ecosystem over alternatives. It was found that there is high intention to eventually pursue entrepreneurship in Saudi, with a positive perception of the ecosystem, yet reluctance remains over choosing the Saudi ecosystem over foreign countries’ ecosystems at this current point in time.