Perception of the University's entrepreneurial climate in Morocco: A longitudinal analysis of university- and individual-related factors

Abstract

The University Entrepreneurial Climate (UEC) is a crucial determinant of students' entrepreneurial spirit yet remains underexplored. This study investigates how university-microsystem factors (entrepreneurial university reputation, entrepreneurship training programmes, and educational degree level) and individual characteristics (entrepreneurial family background, previous entrepreneurial experience, gender, age, and marital status) influence students' UEC perceptions. Using non-parametric analysis on data from Moroccan students surveyed in two distinct waves (n = 1984 in 2016; n = 1254 in 2021), we analyse the evolution of these perceptions. Our findings reveal that entrepreneurial university reputation and entrepreneurship training programmes significantly influenced UEC, with their effect becoming more pronounced in 2021. Similarly, master's studies and entrepreneurial family background were found to be significant predictors of UEC perception, but only in the 2021 sample. Notably, female students reported a higher UEC perception than their male counterparts in 2021. Likewise, the youngest students were the most sensitive to perceiving UEC in 2021. Conversely, prior entrepreneurial experience and marital status did not show a significant influence in either period. Our findings have academic and practical implications, highlighting the importance of university leaders cultivating an UEC through understanding the drivers behind such perceptions. The scarcity of literature in this area highlights several promising avenues for future investigation.