ENTREPRENEURIAL ACUMEN OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS: INPUT IN UNDERSTANDING THE IMPULSE OF BUSINESS START-UPS AMONGST ENGINEER – ENTREPRENEURS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The research aimed to identify the factors that predict the business intelligence of college students enrolled in engineering programs. Participants involved in study were students that belong to the generational cohort called neo-millennials. A theoretical model depicting the factors that affects the entrepreneurial acumen of engineering students was tested using multivariate analysis. Results of the study revealed that characteristics supporting the entrepreneurial acumen of engineer students were: enthusiasm; appreciation of available social resource; having a vision; a sense of entitlement; and having creativity and innovation. It has been identified that the competencies in personal, social, and technical aspect, gained by the students through formal and informal schooling predicted entrepreneurial acumen. The study suggested that the business intelligence of engineering students can also be predicted by entrepreneurial influence such as: early exposure to family business; and taking up entrepreneurial courses. The study also revealed that one’s innate entrepreneurial manifestations and characteristics predict entrepreneurial acumen.