Predicting Entrepreneurial Intent among Entry-Level Engineering Students

This is a continuing study of an instructional technique that teaches important solid mechanics concepts within the context of an entrepreneurship case study and lab that we call ScenarioBased Learning (eSBL). Students in an introductory solid mechanics course completed this class work and then shared their attitudes on the curriculum. Results show that among engineering students, entrepreneurial career intent is closely related to business skill self-efficacy, having a “divergent” learning style, and a “systemizing” approach to problem solving. This suggests that eSBL curriculum could be an important tool in preparing engineering students for a career in entrepreneurship or other business-related activity within core engineering course content. In addition, faculty impressions on instruction using this curricular tool are shared.