<![CDATA[Unemployment among educated individuals indicates that higher education institutions need to equip students not only with readiness to enter the workforce but also with the ability to create employment opportunities. However, research simultaneously examining Praktik Lapangan Industri experience and entrepreneurial understanding as predictors of entrepreneurial interest among mechanical engineering students remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the effects of Praktik Lapangan Industri experience and entrepreneurial understanding on students’ entrepreneurial interest. The study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The respondents consisted of 78 students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Universitas Negeri Padang from the 2021–2023 cohorts, selected using total sampling. Data were collected through a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using multiple linear regression, t-tests, an F-test, and the coefficient of determination with SPSS. The results yielded the regression equation Y = −37.910 + 0.786X₁ + 1.046X₂. Praktik Lapangan Industri experience and entrepreneurial understanding were positive and significant predictors of entrepreneurial interest, both partially and simultaneously. The two variables explained 60.6% of the variation in entrepreneurial interest, while the remaining 39.4% was associated with other factors not included in the research model. Entrepreneurial understanding made a more dominant contribution than Praktik Lapangan Industri experience. These findings confirm the importance of integrating industrial experience and entrepreneurship education in fostering entrepreneurial interest among mechanical engineering students. In practical terms, higher education institutions need to strengthen entrepreneurship education and orient Praktik Lapangan Industri toward developing business management competencies.]]>
