The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Mindset on Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediation Role of Digital Literacy

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FORMOSA NEWS - Lombok, Indonesia - Digital Literacy Strengthens Entrepreneurial Intentions of Vocational Students, Indonesian Study Finds. This discovery was revealed by Dias Intan Sholatiah, Sudarmiatin, and Dwi Wulandari from Malang State University in a scientific article published in the Asian Journal of Management Analytics (AJMA) Vol. 5 No. 1, 2026. Reveals that students are far more likely to plan entrepreneurial careers when business education and entrepreneurial thinking are reinforced by strong digital skills.

The research was conducted by Dias Intan Sholatiah, Sudarmiatin, and Dwi Wulandari from Universitas Negeri Malang, East Java. Using data collected from vocational high school students in Praya Tengah, Central Lombok, the authors highlight how digital literacy acts as a bridge connecting classroom entrepreneurship lessons with real entrepreneurial motivation. The findings matter at a time when Indonesia continues to struggle with high unemployment among vocational school graduates despite rapid growth in the digital economy.

Why Entrepreneurial Education Still Falls Short

Entrepreneurship is widely seen as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Indonesia now has more than 64 million micro, small, and medium enterprises, yet its national entrepreneurship ratio remains below the level typically seen in developed economies. At the same time, vocational high school graduates record the highest unemployment rate in the country.

In Central Lombok, the challenge is particularly visible. The region has strong economic potential, supported by tourism development and the Mandalika Special Economic Zone. However, many vocational graduates still aim to become job seekers rather than job creators. This mismatch raises questions about whether entrepreneurship education is effectively preparing students for the realities of a digital-based economy.

Previous studies have shown mixed results. Some found that entrepreneurship education boosts entrepreneurial intention, while others reported limited impact when students lack practical experience or digital skills. This inconsistency prompted the Universitas Negeri Malang research team to look more closely at the role of digital literacy.

How the Study was Conducted

The researchers surveyed 199 vocational high school students from two public vocational schools in Praya Tengah and Praya Pariwisata, Central Lombok. The study was published in 2026 and applied a quantitative research design, using structured online questionnaires.

To analyze the relationships between variables, the team used Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). In simple terms, this approach allowed the researchers to examine how entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial mindset influence entrepreneurial intention, both directly and indirectly, through digital literacy.

Key Findings at a Glance

The results consistently point to the central role of digital literacy. The study found that:

• Entrepreneurship education significantly increases entrepreneurial intention. Students who receive better entrepreneurship learning show stronger interest in becoming entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurial mindset has a strong positive effect. Creative thinking, openness to innovation, and willingness to take risks are closely linked to entrepreneurial plans.
• Digital literacy directly boosts entrepreneurial intention. Students who are comfortable using digital tools, platforms, and information are more confident about starting a business.
• Digital literacy acts as a mediator. It strengthens the impact of both entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial mindset on entrepreneurial intention.
• Mindset and digital skills matter more than theory alone. Entrepreneurial mindset and digital literacy show stronger effects than entrepreneurship education by itself.

Together, these factors explain more than 70 percent of the variation in students’ entrepreneurial intentions, indicating a strong and reliable model.

What this Means in the Real World

The findings carry important implications for education policy and curriculum design, especially at the vocational level. Entrepreneurship education that focuses mainly on theory is unlikely to produce confident young entrepreneurs. Instead, digital competence must be integrated into entrepreneurship learning.

For schools, this means combining business concepts with hands-on digital practices such as online marketing, digital content creation, and platform-based business models. For teachers, it highlights the need for training that blends entrepreneurship with technology. For policymakers, the study supports investment in digital infrastructure and digital-based teacher development in vocational schools.

Author Profiles

Dias Intan Sholatiah, M.Ed. candidate, Universitas Negeri Malang. 
Field of expertise: entrepreneurship education and digital literacy.

Sudarmiatin, Ph.D., Universitas Negeri Malang. 
Field of expertise: management and entrepreneurship education.

Dwi Wulandari, Ph.D., Universitas Negeri Malang. 
Field of expertise: educational economics and business education.

Sources

Sholatiah, D. I., Sudarmiatin, & Wulandari, D. (2026). The Impact of Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Mindset on Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediation Role of Digital Literacy. Asian Journal of Management Analytics, Vol. 5 No. 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajma.v5i1.15700
URL: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ajma