Abstract

1082 universities from 50 countries participated in the GUESSS 2016 survey of student entrepreneurial spirit. The global survey produced a total of 122,509 valid responses. In Japan, 24 universities and graduate schools participated, producing a total of 1490 valid responses.

Comparing results from all participating countries with those from Japan, we find that when asked about career preferences immediately after and five years after graduation, a higher proportion of students in Japan hope to be employed (80.4% just after graduation, 61.0% after five years). In the all countries total sample, 38.2% hope to become entrepreneurs after five years; in Japan only 8.8% share this aspiration. Nascent entrepreneurs preparing to launch businesses account for 21.9% of the total sample. But in Japan this figure is only 12.8%. In the total sample, 8.8% have already started businesses, while in Japan this figure is a low 1.3%.

Elsewhere the question is intention to start a business or self-assessment of personal skills related to starting a business, Japanese students score lower than their peers from other countries.

Correlation analysis of factors affecting students “entrepreneurial intention (desire to start a new business)” reveals a direct positive correlation between “entrepreneurial intention” and “university climate” that promotes entrepreneurship. And “Courses and offerings” correlates to “entrepreneurial intention” via “attitude toward entrepreneurship” and “perceived competence.”