Designing a Model for the Development of Entrepreneurial Skills to Enhance Entrepreneurial Performance among Physical Education Students in Iraqi Universities

Abstract

Universities play a key role in fostering entrepreneurial skills, yet physical education students in Iraq, despite having significant potential, suffer from the lack of an integrated model for improving entrepreneurial performance. Therefore, this study aimed to design a model for developing entrepreneurial skills and enhancing the entrepreneurial performance of physical education students in Iraqi universities. This research employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative). In the qualitative phase, the statistical population included experts and specialists in the fields of physical education and sports entrepreneurship in Iraq. Using purposive and snowball sampling methods, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, and an initial model was extracted. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population comprised managers, faculty members, experts, and sports entrepreneurs in Iraq, from whom 127 questionnaires were collected and analyzed through convenience sampling. The data collection tool was a 99-item questionnaire developed based on the qualitative findings. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modeling (PLS) were applied. The qualitative findings revealed that five main dimensions, including 20 categories and 99 subcategories, were identifiable in relation to the development of entrepreneurial skills. These dimensions and categories, after undergoing meta-synthesis and validation through two rounds of the Delphi method, were considered the main components of the final model. The quantitative results further showed that the designed model had a good fit and could serve as a reliable framework for improving the entrepreneurial performance of physical education students in Iraqi universities. Overall, the validation of the model through the Delphi method and quantitative analyses indicated that the model enjoyed a satisfactory fit and could be effectively applied as a guideline for educational policymaking, skill-based program design, and student empowerment in the pathway of sports entrepreneurship. Thus, the implementation of this model can play an influential role in advancing academic entrepreneurship and increasing the participation of physical education graduates in economic and social domains.