This study analyzes gender differences in entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial skills in Portuguese higher education students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025, using EntreComp Questionnaire ((α = 0.950) and Entrepreneurial Intention Scale (α = 0.941). The sample consisted of 409 higher education students, predominantly female (71.14%), with a mean age of 25.10 years (SD = 8.72). The study took place in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, an island context where entrepreneurship is often motivated by necessity, the results reveal that men have significantly higher levels of intention (M = 5.16 vs. M = 4.46; t(406) = −4.24, p ≤ .001) and skills, especially in Specific Knowledge (t(406) = −3.57, p ≤ .001). Such disparities highlight the influence of socio-cultural and educational barriers, underscoring the urgency of gender-responsive pedagogies (e.g., mentoring, experiential learning) to empower women as agents of sustainable innovation. The study contributes to the debate on educational policies in peripheral regions, aligning with the European Competence Framework (EntreComp) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.