The Synergy Between University Students’ Behavioral Intention towards Digital Social Start-up and Contribution to SDGs: Through the Lens of TPB and Social Entrepreneurial Orientation (SEO) Theory

Project ID: WUB/2022/P1/009

Project Duration: 2022 - 2023

Project Leader: Md. Mobarak Karim (Department of Business)

Project Members: Abdullah Mohammad Sharif, Dr. Selim Ahmed, Dr. Wasib Bin Latif

Nowadays, digital technologies are used in different industries due to the rapid growth of digital activities which is the most attractive feature for different types of entrepreneurship activities. In the 21 st century, the crucial challenge of the Government is to deal with Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). Therefore, digital social entrepreneurship plays a vital role in developing a noble career and social welfare. Hence, digital social entrepreneurship is considered the form of entrepreneurship that uses digital technology for social impact and the future of social entrepreneurship for achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, the model is proposed based on the extensive literature review. This study’s aim is to determine the impact of motivational factors on students’ intention to start digital social start-ups towards the intention to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sample will be drawn from university graduate students who are in their final year of study, either in bachelor’s or master’s degree programs. The study will adopt the “non-probability random sampling” method, which will be followed by a convenience approach. A structured survey questionnaire will be developed based on the research framework, including all the study variables. All items of the questionnaire will be preserved on a 5-point Likert-type scale (“5” = strongly agree, and “1” = mostly disagree). Partial Least Square-based Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) will be used to test the proposed hypotheses. The model is given based on the “Theory of Planned Behavior(TPB)” and “Social Entrepreneurial Orientation (SEO)”. Also, the study will provide policy implications for the young entrepreneur, policymakers, and practitioners, which would encourage the stakeholders’ involvement in social-based entrepreneurial ventures and digital social start-ups in various industries in developing countries, particularly in Bangladesh.