ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET ADOPTION AMONG STUDENTS

In order to enhance comprehensive utilization and development of personal and social potential, the European Union considers, promotes and fosters the entreprenurial mindset, as one of the most important factors, which can strenghten the competitive power of economy, as well as the role of supporting institutions, especially educational. The purpose of this research encompasses identifying the factors which enhance the propensity for entrepreneurial behaviour and the probability of the new venture creation. Although policymakers have considerable expectations about the role of higher entrepreneurial education in the process of further widening of the entreprenurial mindset, according to the results of this study, entrepreneurial education in the Republic of Croatia is considered as an insignificant factor in stimulating entreprenurial behaviour and as a source of entrepreneurial competence. Consequently, the research results (a study was conducted among students at the Polytechnic of Rijeka) pointed out that students in Croatia can rely mostly on their own experience and entrepreneurial family background, as the main significant factors, which have a positive impact on enhancing their propensity for entrepreneurial behaviour and the probability of new venture creation. Furthermore, the results show that the propensity for entrepreneurial behaviour represents a significant predictor of the level of probability of new venture creation. These results imply that policymakers and others responsible for tertiary entrepreneurship education should consider implementing changes in learning outcomes, as well as in teaching methods, in order to fulfil its mission in strengthening the entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial behaviour.