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DOI: 10.15507/1991-9468.030.202602.258­273

UDC 371.21:33­057.875

 

Exploring Entrepreneurial Intentions among Vocational Students: The Moderating Role of Perceived Behavioural Control

Ida Nugroho Saputro
Associate Professor, Lecturer of the Faculty of Teacher Education and Trai ning, Sebelas Maret University (36 Ir­Sutami St., Central Java 57126, Indonesia), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9555-2910, Scopus ID: 57194655565, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tuatul Mahfud
Professor, Lecturer of the Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic (KM. 8 Soekrano Hatta St., Balikpapan 76127, Indonesia), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6081-6306, Scopus ID: 57200122329, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ayu Intan Sari
Assistent Professor, Lecturer of the Faculty of Animal Science, Sebelas Maret University (36 Ir­Sutami St., Central Java 57126, Indonesia), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-2132, Scopus ID: 57208466937, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sukatiman
Professor, Lecturer of the Faculty of Teacher Education, Sebelas Maret University (36 Ir­Sutami St., Central Java 57126, Indonesia), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7011-7402, Scopus ID: 57215846506, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
Introduction. Entrepreneurial intentions play an important role for vocational school graduates in training new entrepreneurs. Many surveys of entrepreneurial intentions are often associated with the Theory of Planned Behaviour but they are limited to testing perceived behavioural control as a moderator. Therefore, this study aims to examine the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions in the Theory of Planned Behaviour model and investigate the moderator role of perceived behavioural control in this model.
Materials and Methods. A total of 266 vocational school students participated in this study by completing questionnaires based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and entrepreneurial intention constructs. The data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling to examine the relationships among variables and to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. The Structural Equation Modelling allows to analyse complex cause and effect relationships simultaneously.
Results. The entrepreneurial intentions of vocational school students are influenced by behavioral attitudes, social norms, and perceived control over their actions. Students’ perceptions of an entrepreneurial career play a crucial role in shaping their entrepreneurial aspirations. Developing positive attitudes, providing social support, and strengthening behavioral control should be encouraged through educational activities in schools. An additional finding shows that perceived behavioural control significantly moderates the positive effects of attitude and social norms on entrepreneurial intentions. These findings highlight the importance of integrating psychological and social dimensions in vocational entrepreneurship education by reinforcing students’ attitudes, supportive environments, and behavioural control, while also extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour in vocational contexts.
Conclusion. These results provide practical guidance for teachers and curriculum developers to design learning experiences that enhance students’ self­efficacy, experiential engagement, and entrepreneurial confidence, thereby fostering stronger and more sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among vocational learners.

Keywords: students’ entrepreneurial intention, theory of planned behaviour, entrepreneurial attitude, social influence, perceived behavioural control

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Saputro I.N., Mahfud T., Sari A.I., Sukatiman. Exploring Entrepreneurial Intentions among Vocational Students: The Moderating Role of Perceived Behavioural Control. Integration of Education. 2026;30(2):258–273. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991­9468.26302.258­273

Authors’ contribution:
I. N. Saputro – formulation of research goals and aims; management and coordination responsibility for the research activity planning and execution; leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution.
T. Mahfud – application of formal techniques to analyse study data; development of methodology.
A. I. Sari – acquisition of the financial support for the project leading to this publication; specifically visualization.
Sukatiman – conducting a research and investigation process; specifically writing the initial draft.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 02.05.2025;
revised 24.02.2026;
accepted 05.03.2026.

 

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