INCUBATION SUPPORT AND NEW VENTURE INTENTIONS AMONG BUSINESS EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN BAYELSA STATE

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between incubation support and new venture intentions among Business Education postgraduate students in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, focusing on two dimensions of incubation support: business development services and funding opportunities. A correlational research design was adopted, guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. The population comprised all 202 Business Education postgraduate students in the state, with a sample of 120 respondents selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Incubation Support and New Venture Intentions Questionnaire (ISNVIQ),” which was validated by three experts and subjected to reliability analysis, yielding a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.87. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed a moderate positive relationship between funding opportunities and new venture intentions, and a strong positive relationship between business development services and new venture intentions.  The study concluded that incubation support, plays a significant role in fostering entrepreneurial intentions among Business Education postgraduate students. It was recommended that policymakers and development agencies should create and expand accessible funding opportunities tailored to the needs of postgraduate students to enhance their capacity and motivation for entrepreneurial engagement.