ISTIFHAM
Vol 4 No 2 (2026): ISTIFHAM: Journal of Islamic Studies

Empowering Student Entrepreneurs: The Synergistic Effect of Education, Self-Efficacy, and Spiritual Motivation

M. Syukri Rizki Hamdalah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia)
Muhammad Anggung Manumanoso Prasetyo (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 Aug 2026

Abstract

The transition toward the Society 5.0 era demands graduates who can create rather than merely seek jobs, yet persistently high levels of unemployment among the highly educated and a low national entrepreneurship ratio indicate that students' entrepreneurial interest still requires substantial encouragement. This study analyzes the effect of entrepreneurship learning and self-efficacy on students' entrepreneurial interest, with spiritual motivation as a mediating variable, within the context of Islamic higher education institutions (PTKI). A quantitative explanatory approach with a cross-sectional survey design was employed. The sample comprised 100 active students in semesters 6–8 at UIN Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe, selected through total sampling. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0 and a bootstrapping procedure. The results show that entrepreneurship learning has a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial interest, whereas self-efficacy has no significant direct effect. Self-efficacy significantly influences spiritual motivation, which in turn emerges as the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial interest. The indirect-effect analysis reveals that spiritual motivation mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and entrepreneurial interest, but does not mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship learning and entrepreneurial interest. The model explains 83.8% of the variance in entrepreneurial interest. These findings confirm that strengthening self-efficacy fosters entrepreneurial interest more effectively when internalized through spiritual motivation, implying that PTKI entrepreneurship curricula should integrate business competencies with spiritual values and Islamic business ethics

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Journal Info

Abbrev

istifham

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

ISTIFHAM is a leading peer-reviewed and open-access journal, which publishes scholarly works of researchers and scholars from around the world, and specializes in Islamic Studies. ISTIFHAM focuses on publishing high-quality scientific articles that emphasize contemporary issues in the fields of ...