Effect of Social Entrepreneurship Antecedents on Students’ Social Entrepreneurship Competency: Evidence from Students’ Social Entrepreneurship Organizations in Chinese Universities

The purpose of this research is to predict the effect of empathy (EM), moral obligation (MOB), self-efficacy (SE), and social support (SS) on social entrepreneurship competency (SEC). Drawing upon theory planned behavior (TPB) and experiential learning theory (ELT), using stratified random sampling and cross-sectional research design, the study collected and analyzed 384 questionnaires with a response rate of 73.8% from students ENACTUS universities members in the Guangdong province, China. The study revealed that MOB, SE, and SS were significantly influenced SEC. Although EM records an insignificant effect on SEC. The results also indicated that EL positively influences SEC substantially. This study addressed the critical role of EL in strengthening students’ social entrepreneurial competency. The study advances TPB by elaborating on new insights to determine the importance of EL and students' social entrepreneurial skills to develop existing social entrepreneurial competencies.