Modeling the Factors Affecting Students’ Willingness to Start a Business

Entrepreneurship is the process of creating new value through a committed effort, taking into account the risks involved. The current research was conducted to model the factors affecting students’ willingness to start a business. The statistical population included the students of the Faculties of Economics and Entrepreneurship (625 people) and the students of the Faculty of Technical Engineering (2156 people) at Razi University. The sample size was estimated at 386 people by Cochran’s formula, who were selected by stratified sampling method with proportional assignment. Data were collected by standard questionnaires and were analyzed by descriptive statistics and path analysis. The findings indicated that the variables of innovation, locus of control, success-seeking, pioneering, and risk-taking directly and the variables of family background, employment history, and participation in entrepreneurship workshops indirectly accounted for a total of 33% of the variance in the students’ desire to start a business. It can be said that a major challenge for students is their effort to gain independence and ensure their job security in the future. So, it is recommended that the officials consider this important factor by developing skills such as innovation and other job skills and provide employment opportunities for young people.