The Role of Demographic Factors and Entrepreneurial Exposure in Shaping Faculty Entrepreneurial Mindset

Author: Bikram Prajapati

Issue: Spring Issue, 2026

Abstract

The entrepreneurial mindset is increasingly emphasized in higher education, yet faculty perspectives remain underexplored. The purpose of this study is to explore how demographic factors and entrepreneurial exposure influence the entrepreneurial mindset among the faculty of higher educational institutions in Nepal. Employing a quantitative research method and a cross-sectional design, data were collected through an online survey of 248 faculty members selected, using purposive and snowball sampling. Through non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H) and CHAID decision tree methods using SPSS 26.0, results indicated that demographic and entrepreneurial experience shaped the entrepreneurial mindset of the faculty. Specifically, the result showed that faculty qualification, teaching level, and participation in entrepreneurship workshops emerged as the most influential variables, demonstrating consistency across multiple entrepreneurial mindset dimensions. While gender, age, faculty qualification, participation in entrepreneurship workshops, experience in teaching entrepreneurship courses, and teaching level show a significant impact on entrepreneurial mindset, teaching experience and the entrepreneurial course studied have no impact on their mindset. The study highlights the combined role of demographics and exposure in shaping faculty entrepreneurial mindset, offering insights for professional development and institutional policy to promote entrepreneurial thinking.