Strengthening University Students' Position in the Labor Market through the Formation of Fundamental Entrepreneurial Knowledge

Abstract

Purpose: This paper examines how the formation of fundamental entrepreneurial knowledge among university students strengthens their position in the labor market. Uzbekistan is introducing a mandatory “Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship” course in all higher education institutions from the 2026/2027 academic year, yet the mechanisms linking such instruction to graduate employability have rarely been examined empirically in the national context. Methods: A narrative literature review was combined with a small-scale pilot survey (N = 20) of students at Jizzakh State Pedagogical University, measuring self-reported entrepreneurial knowledge, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, employability, and labor-market adaptability on 5-point Likert scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlation, independent-samples t-tests, and multiple linear regression. Results: All four scales showed acceptable-to-excellent internal consistency (α = .67–.92). Entrepreneurial knowledge and adaptability were the strongest independent predictors of employability (β = .49 and .41, respectively, both p < .01), and together with self-efficacy explained 74% of the variance in perceived employability (R² = .74, p < .001). Conclusion: These preliminary findings are consistent with the proposed conceptual model in which entrepreneurship fundamentals knowledge strengthens labor-market position through competency development and human-capital signaling. Given the small, demographically narrow convenience sample, the results should be treated as indicative pilot evidence pending replication with larger, more diverse samples.

Keywords

entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial competencies; graduate employability; labor market; human capital; higher education; pilot survey

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