The readiness of business students to change the world : A quantitative study of perception of social entrepreneurship among business students in Lithuania, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine

Abstract: This bachelor thesis deals with the difference of perception of social entrepreneurship among business students.The concept of social entrepreneurship has gained an increasing importance in recent years. Nonetheless, a research gap towards the perception of social entrepreneurship among business school students was identified. The purpose of this research is to close the research gap and find out the difference in perception of social entrepreneurship among business school students from different countries. Therefore, two research questions were stated: “What is the difference in perception of social entrepreneurship between business school students from different European countries, more precisely in Lithuania, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine” and “To what degree do universities influence the perception of business school students about social entrepreneurship”.The previous research about entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship are analyzed and eight hypotheses are derived. The study is based on a quantitative research approach with standardized, mostly close-ended survey design, where data was collected through an online survey. The empirical data chapter includes the summary of collected data from 220 respondents, with 55 for each country. All the hypotheses are tested using SPSS program.The study shows that there is a difference in perception of SE among business students from Lithuania, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine. Moreover, none of the combination of countries showed similar results. However, Sweden outstands other countries with the greater perception of social entrepreneurship. It was also found out that the universities have a significant impact on perception level of social entrepreneurship. Therefore, the policy and societal implementations of this research give a place for further research.Because of the findings, the theory must be adjusted, as everyone has a different perception of social entrepreneurship, a uniform definition is not even possible. Companies should adapt their business environment to students, if they want to have a richer social environment.