Abstract:
Entrepreneurship plays an important role in economic prosperity and social stability of any
country. Fostering entrepreneurship among students has become an important topic
worldwide. Dependent mentality of students that has been anchored in the minds from the
initial stage is a huge hindrance for entrepreneurship within the country. Universities have
amended the curricular and have taken measures to enhance an entrepreneurial culture, but
the outcomes seem to be very slow. Even though this study and the previous studies reveal
that a higher percentage of Undergraduates are willing to be entrepreneurs, there is a very
low evidence that at least a majority of them have pursued their career as entrepreneurs after
graduation. This study identifies the emotional intelligence and its impact on entrepreneurial
intention with psychological capital as a mediator with special reference to entrepreneurial
undergraduates of Sri Lanka. A sample of 160 undergraduates of the four main
entrepreneurship degree programmes offering universities were selected in terms of
stratified sampling. Primary data were collected by using a structured questionnaire.
Researcher found that there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and
entrepreneurial intention, a positive and a significant relationship of psychological Capital
with emotional intelligence and with entrepreneurial intention. It is clear that,
Entrepreneurial undergraduates should be given proper exposure to engage themselves in
activities that enhance their emotional intelligence and psychological capital that creates a
mental stability to cope with challenges and to pursue their entrepreneurial intentions. This
study provides an insight for the policy makers and academics to a novel direction of the
curriculum
