Article Gold Open Access 2024

Green entrepreneurial intentions in Saudi youth: cultural insights and implications

Discover Sustainability
Journal · Vol. 5 · Issue 1 · Art. 480
Abstract

This study investigates green entrepreneurial intentions (GEI) and behaviors among Saudi Arabian youth, examining the influence of contextual factors such as entrepreneurial education, university environmental support, and entrepreneurial motivation. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a foundational framework, this research contributes novel insights by contextualizing GEI within Saudi Arabia’s unique socio-cultural landscape and Vision 2030, a national initiative focused on economic diversification and sustainability. Data were collected from a sample of 441 university students and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Key theoretical contributions of this study include expanding TPB by integrating environmental and motivational factors specific to Saudi youth, thereby offering a nuanced understanding of how cultural and institutional contexts shape green entrepreneurial intentions. Practically, the findings underscore the importance of embedding sustainability-focused entrepreneurship into educational curricula and suggest policy strategies to foster green entrepreneurship. This study offers critical insights for educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs aiming to align Saudi Arabia’s youth entrepreneurship initiatives with sustainable development goals, reinforcing the role of young entrepreneurs as drivers of a sustainable future. © The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Commitment to the environment (CTE) Entrepreneurial education (EE) Entrepreneurial motivation (EM) Green consumption commitment (GCC) Green entrepreneurial behaviour (GEB) Green entrepreneurial intention (GEI) University entrepreneurial support (UES)

Index Keywords

Sustainable development higher education curriculum Saudi Arabia Green economy entrepreneur least squares method young population Economic diversification business development cultural influence
Author Affiliations
Department of Management, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia
College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
Funding & Acknowledgements
Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University
This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [KFU242692].
King Faisal University, KFU
Grant: KFU242692
This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [KFU242692].
King Faisal University, KFU
This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [KFU242692].
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