Intrapreneurial intentions of undergraduate university students: a comparative study between Spanish and Nicaraguan students

Abstract

Higher education is currently facing several challenges as a result of an uncertain environment. This has led to a demand from organisations for employees with an entrepreneurial, innovative, and risk-taking profile in a global environment. These traits are characteristic of the so-called intrapreneurs. This paper compares the intrapreneurial intentions of university students in Spain and Nicaragua by analysing the effect of the variables age, gender, previous professional experience and entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial training. Based on a total sample of 474 students, among the main results, we highlight the fact that Nicaraguan students have a higher assessment of innovation and risk-taking than Spanish students. In addition, age and professional experience are common variables that improve innovation and risk-taking for both groups. Although there is no gender gap among Nicaraguan students, in Spanish students women are rated lower than men.