The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prospect of starting own business among students of economic studies
The research objective was to present the significance of the coronavirus pandemic in the context of starting a business, by business students. The empirical basis was fabricated upon the results of a survey conducted at the Poznań University of Economics and Business. The research was dynamic and conducted in two stages: in February 2020 (just before the first lockdown in Poland) wherein 243 students were surveyed and in March 2021 (a year after the first lockdown), in which 270 students were surveyed. The respondents were asked, among other issues, to describe their professional experience, as well as perspectives and plans concerning setting up and managing their own company. In addition, factor analysis was used to deepen the findings. The pandemic has significantly influenced students’ professional plans, including, above all, an increased desire to start their own business. In addition, of particular importance for students at the beginning of their professional career is the flexibility and ease of adaptation to changing conditions in the business environment. The research was limited because it was based only on students of Poznań University of Economics and Business. Extending the research to other social groups such as students of other universities, the unemployed, graduates of technical / vocational schools, economically active people, elderly people, etc. would allow to explore the reasons and conditions for setting up a business. The article shows how students’ perspectives and attitudes towards setting up their own businesses have changed. The results of the research may be of particular interest to entities such as public administration, local governments, labour offices and all institutions which are focused on education and career shaping.
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