EXPLORING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS OF UNDER GRADUATION STUDENTS IN SELECTED GOVERNMENT FIRST GRADE COLLEGES OF KARNATAKA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/ShodhPrabandhan.3.i1.2026.85Keywords:
Creativity And Innovation, Gender, Risk-Taking Ability, Entrepreneurial Skills, Leadership SkillsAbstract
Gender has emerged as an important dimension in entrepreneurship research influencing access to opportunities, resources and skill development. But, the level of women participation in entrepreneurship in India remains comparatively low as reflected by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report (2022) NITI Aayog Report(2023). The study, in this backdrop intends to examine whether entrepreneurial skills differ significantly based on gender among under graduation students, focusing on risk-taking ability, leadership skills, creativity and innovation. Primary data have been collected using a structured questionnaire with 14 Likert-scale items from final-year BA, BCom and BSc students in selected Government First Grade Colleges across Tumakuru, Davanagere and Chikkaballapura districts for a sample size of 140. The study employed an independent samples Welch’s t-test to analyse gender differences, while Hedges’ g was used to measure effect sizes and Holm’s correction was applied to adjust p-values for more robust statistical inference. The study findings reveal significant gender differences across all three mentioned dimensions, with large effect sizes indicating a substantial gap in entrepreneurial competencies. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to enhance women’s entrepreneurial skills and promote balanced as well as inclusive entrepreneurial development among female students in particular.
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