First-year university student’s propensity toward innovation

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine propensity toward innovation among first-year university students of different genders and enrolled in distinct disciplines of study. In order to do so, a novel theoretical model of propensity toward innovation including entrepreneurial self-efficacy, creative self-efficacy, perseverance of effort and consistency of interest was proposed. We used data obtained from questionnaires distributed among 2369 students, 50.11% were women (M of age = 18.50, SD = 2.16) and 49.89% were men (M of age = 18.33, SD = 2.31). Our findings indicated that engineering and architecture students reported a greater propensity toward innovation, particularly with regard to perseverance of effort and consistency of interest. No differences were found across genders. These results suggest that there is a need to promote interventions aimed at enhancing student’s propensity toward innovation in higher education institutions.