THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN PROMOTING STUDENTS’ ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The development of the digital economy has created increasingly diverse opportunities for university students to engage in entrepreneurial activities. However, access to technology and digital markets does not automatically enable students to develop independent economic activities. Entrepreneurial spirit, reflected in innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and the ability to recognize opportunities, constitutes an important foundation in this process. This study aims to analyze and synthesize the literature on the role of entrepreneurial spirit in promoting students’ economic independence in the digital era, while considering the roles of higher education and entrepreneurial experience as supporting factors. This study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method. The primary literature covers publications from 2015 to 2026, while selected classical conceptual works are retained when they have strong theoretical relevance. Literature was identified through Google Scholar, DOAJ, ScienceDirect, SINTA, institutional repositories, and relevant institutional sources. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns, relationships, and syntheses across previous findings. The results indicate that entrepreneurial spirit functions as an internal foundation that encourages students to recognize opportunities and engage in entrepreneurial action. The digital environment provides a space for developing these opportunities through various platforms and business models, while entrepreneurial experience enables students to develop their ability to manage resources, make decisions, and deal with risks. Higher education plays a supporting role through entrepreneurship education, experiential learning, mentoring, and access to networks and resources. The literature synthesis indicates that students’ economic independence develops through an interconnected process involving entrepreneurial characteristics, digital opportunities, entrepreneurial experience, and higher education ecosystem support. Therefore, the development of student entrepreneurship should focus not only on increasing entrepreneurial intention but also on strengthening productive capacity and the ability to manage economic activities sustainably.