<![CDATA[This research endeavors to examine the effect of entrepreneurial knowledge on students' entrepreneurial interest, with self-efficacy serving as a mediating variable. The primary focus of the research is on students who have completed the Independent Business Project (Proyek Usaha Mandiri, PUM) course in the agricultural sector at Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Payakumbuh. The methodology employed is a descriptive research design utilizing a survey method, wherein primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. The research sample consisted of 35 respondents selected using a multiple stage sampling technique. Data analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Square (PLS) structural equation modeling approach. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial knowledge exerts a significant influence on self-efficacy (p-value = 0.000), indicating that mastery of operational, marketing, and financial content provides a cognitive foundation for students to assess their own capabilities in managing business ventures. Furthermore, self-efficacy was found to have a significant effect on entrepreneurial interest (p-value = 0.000), demonstrating that belief in one's personal capacity serves as the primary psychological driver in choosing an entrepreneurial career path. The mediation test confirms that self-efficacy plays a significant role as a "cognitive bridge" (p-value = 0.000) linking entrepreneurial knowledge to entrepreneurial interest. The model yields a Q-square value of 0.69, indicating a strong predictive relevance of 69%. In conclusion, this study emphasizes that knowledge acquired through experiential learning approaches such as the PUM course is more effective in shaping perceptions of personal competence compared to traditional lecture-based methods. Higher education institutions are advised to continue strengthening field-based learning methodologies and to provide supporting infrastructure, such as business incubators, in order to mitigate perceptions of financial risk and reinforce students' mental readiness for entrepreneurial endeavors.]]>
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