Survey-Based Measurements of the Entrepreneurial Mindset of Indian Engineering Students

This study evaluates the entrepreneurial mindset (EM) among Indian engineering students and assesses the effectiveness of existing measurement frameworks in the Indian context. EM is recognized as a valuable asset for engineering students, enabling them to tackle global challenges and gain a competitive advantage. Incorporating entrepreneurship education is a common practice worldwide to cultivate EM in learners. However, assessing EM development is challenging due to its complexity. The study applies EM measurement frameworks, validated in Western education systems, to assess EM of engineering students at a small private university in India. Quantitative assessments through online surveys are conducted at various points in the students’ engineering course through first and second year of engineering. This study recognizes the significance of measuring entrepreneurial mindset in preparing engineering students to address contemporary engineering challenges and foster such mindset for creating innovative solutions. To enhance the EM, it was found necessary to evaluate it in terms of students’ self-reported values for parameters such as growth mindset, altruism, empathy, help-seeking, ideation, interest, open-mindedness, entrepreneurial interest, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy arising in Indian educational ecosystem context. This research thus seeks to provide insights into the EM of UG engineering students at a small university in North India, while discussing the applicability of existing EM measurement frameworks to this research.