Entrepreneurial activity of student youth of Belarus

Abstract

The article presents the results of the sociological research of entrepreneurial activity of student youth, conducted in November 2024 in ten institutions of higher education in Belarus by the educational and research cluster «Public opinion» of the Belarusian State University on the initiative of the Secretariat of Hi-Tech Park Supervisory Board. The strategic importance of involving young people in entrepreneurial activity for the development of the country’s economy was emphasised. The value orientations and professional aspirations of the respondents were analysed. Special attention is paid to the motivation for starting a business, success factors and barriers faced by young people when running their own business. It is indicated that the most important values for students are family, health, material well-being, interesting, creative work and good relations with people around them. It is established that the key requirements to the place of work are the level of salary, working conditions, opportunities for professional growth and career building. There is a relatively high interest of students in entrepreneurship, which is considered by many students as a profession. It is noted that the gender stereotype of entrepreneurship is a thing of the past: girls are no less eager to create their own business than boys. It is revealed that only a small part of the respondents have experience in running a business; they value such personal qualities as responsibility, purposefulness, communication and creativity more highly, as well as being more prone to risk and possessing an entrepreneurial character. The following aspects are identified as necessary for success as an entrepreneur according to the students: a clear business development plan, start-up capital, an entrepreneurial mindset, specialised knowledge in management, marketing and financial planning, and the ability to rent premises and equipment. It is concluded that universities represented by startup centres play an important role in popularising business activities among young people, helping them to form an idea of entrepreneurship as a creative and highly intellectual field. The results obtained can be applied to the development of startup movement in higher education institutions of Belarus, as well as to the planning of the educational process and the organisation of educational work with students.