The moderating effect of the university perceived support environment on entrepreneurial behavior

This article aims to evaluate the moderating effect exerted by students' perceptions of the university support environment on the relationship between their respective entrepreneurial characteristics and entrepreneurial intentions. The subjective norms associated with the university support environment encompass perceptions on teaching activities, research, and outreach that can help shape entrepreneurial behaviour. The empirical assessment was carried out through the estimation of Structural Equations. The sample comprises 1,012 observations with undergraduate students from Brazilian universities across the country's five macro-regions. The results indicate a positive impact of entrepreneurial characteristics on entrepreneurial intention but a negative moderating effect of perceived university support. This result is due to students' negative evaluation of university support, which also reflects negative moderation. Our findings shed light on the complexity of creating an academic environment conducive to entrepreneurial behaviour, especially in Brazilian public universities. (AU)