Breaking barriers
Gender convergence in entrepreneurial intentions in Colombian universities
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24217424 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Diana Oliveros Contreras (0000-0001-9641-7772, Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga - UNAB), Carolina Monsalve-Castro (0000-0002-1572-8876, Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga - UNAB), Mauricio Mendoza García (Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga - UNAB) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-21 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-29 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1756-6266 • E-ISSN: 1756-6274 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/ijge-01-2026-0035 |
| OpenAlex | W7214619082 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 60 |
Purpose Entrepreneurship in Latin America is important for competitiveness and economic growth, with universities providing spaces for entrepreneurial skill development. This study examined whether entrepreneurial intention differs systematically by gender due to distinct psychological mechanisms or converges within university ecosystems that broaden access to entrepreneurial resources and opportunities. Design/methodology/approach Hierarchical logistic regression models, including quadratic and gender-interaction terms, were estimated using data from 6,249 Colombian university students participating in the GUESSS 2023–2024 survey. Findings The gender gap was negligible and non-significant in this context, while the associations of self-efficacy, university climate, and resilience with entrepreneurial intention did not differ significantly by gender. The participating universities appear to provide inclusive environments associated with more equitable conditions for entrepreneurial development. Practical implications Universities should consider inclusive strategies accessible to all students, while retaining gender-sensitive support where structural barriers persist. The findings inform policies aligned with SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). Originality/value The study questions the assumption of a persistent gender gap by providing context-specific evidence that gender differences in entrepreneurial intention may be attenuated in inclusive university environments.
campus climate · Colombian universities · entrepreneurial intention · Entrepreneurship education · gender convergence · Gender equality · Gender gap · Resilience · Self-efficacy · university students · Career Development and Diversity · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education
Contextualizing Entrepreneurship Theory
Logistic Regression
Applied Logistic Regression
The Relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions
The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education
The Entrepreneurial Propensity of Women
Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intent
The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in the Development of Entrepreneurial Intentions.
The future of research on entrepreneurial intentions
Gender, Entrepreneurial Self–Efficacy, and Entrepreneurial Career Intentions
Robustness of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Predicting Entrepreneurial Intentions and Actions
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy
Women Entrepreneurship
The Role of Gender Stereotypes in Perceptions of Entrepreneurs and Intentions to Become an Entrepreneur
Gender gap in entrepreneurship
Danger Zone Entrepreneurs
The theory of planned behavior
Common method biases in behavioral research
Sources of Method Bias in Social Science Research and Recommendations on How to Control It
University as an opportunity space enabler in a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem
Psychometric properties of the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ) in Dominican Republic adolescents
Self-efficacy
What makes student entrepreneurs? On the relevance (and irrelevance) of the university and the regional context for student start-ups
Three waves and counting
A gendered look at entrepreneurship ecosystems
What drives solo and team startups at European universities? The interactive role of entrepreneurial climate, gender, and entrepreneurship course participation
Gender effects on entrepreneurial intention
The resilience of the entrepreneur. Influence on the success of the business. A longitudinal analysis
Narrowing the gender gap in youth entrepreneurship in Russia
The impact of entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and gender on entrepreneurial intentions of university students in the Visegrad countries
| Highly cited | No |
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