Entrepreneurial intentions among Bangladeshi students in Finland

Abstract

This thesis studied the entrepreneurial intentions of Bangladeshi students in Finland and it looked at the relationship of entrepreneurial intentions with various factors among Bangladeshi students in Finland, and the issues and prospects Bangladeshi student entrepreneurs experience in the context of Finland. Due to a growing number of foreign students in Finland, especially those of Bangladesh origin, entrepreneurship has seen light as a possible career choice, which depends both on personal desires and the external reality. The thesis provided emphasis on the fact that the Bangladeshi students are motivated by factors such as financial independence, innovation and stimulation, whereas, its obstruction includes language challenges, financial problems and lack of professional contacts.

The study was quantitative, as it included survey as a method of collecting information among Bangladeshi students in Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences concerning their prospects of becoming entrepreneurs and the realities that influence the pursuance of this intention. Backed by up-to-date literature on entrepreneurial intentions, entrepreneurial orientations & cross-cultural aspects of entrepreneurial intentions, the data was further analyzed rigorously. In the theory part, the thesis also reviewed international entrepreneurs in Finland, support system and infrastructure for international entrepreneurs and challenges & opportunities for international entrepreneurs. These pieces of information later supported the thesis to analyse primary data.

The results indicated that the majority of survey participants display high entrepreneurial intention, yet the lack of the foreign language skills and the limited connection to the financial assets is a major deterrent. Besides this, difficulty in networking and insufficient institutional aid further com-pound these barriers. The thesis added to the body of literature research about entrepreneurship among international students, particularly that of Bangladeshis in Finland, and offered practical solutions to the literature on improving the ecosystem in improving international student entrepreneur-ship through improved networking opportunities, language, and financial aid among international students. The findings are important both in policy formulation and providing support system to international student entrepreneurs.