Entrepreneurial Interests and Talents of College Students: A Qualitative Study of STIE Ganesha Students

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial interests and talents of STIE Ganesha students and to identify the gap between high theoretical interest and practical implementation in the field. The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach conducted over five months, from March to July 2024. The research subjects involved 50 active students of STIE Ganesha selected purposively. Data were collected through closed and open-ended questionnaires covering the assessment of the entrepreneurship curriculum and the effectiveness of institutional support, complemented by documentation studies. Data analysis followed the Miles and Huberman model, encompassing data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that student satisfaction with the entrepreneurship curriculum is remarkably high (82% expressed very satisfied) and the interest in entrepreneurship reaches 94%. However, field implementation remains relatively low, evidenced by only 20% of students having established their own business, while 68% are still at the comprehension stage without tangible action. The primary obstacles identified are office work commitments (72%) and the need for more applicable business incubation programs. Although institutional support through Ganesha LabPreneur is considered adequate, optimizing mentorship programs, structured entrepreneurial internships, and the continuous strengthening of soft skills and hard skills are essential to bridge the gap between interest and actual business implementation among students.