Awareness of Entrepreneurship Culture among Students of the Department of Libraries and Information at Universities in the South Upper Egypt Region

 This study examines the awareness of library and information science students at universities in the South Upper Egypt region regarding entrepreneurship culture, the reasons that motivate these students to acquire this culture, and the entrepreneurial skills that the library and information students in the study sample need to qualify for work in an entrepreneurial environment. The study also aims to clarify the perceptions of the study sample students about the culture of entrepreneurship and the benefits of acquiring it, as well as the challenges that hinder the acquisition of this culture. To achieve these objectives, an electronic questionnaire was designed and applied to a sample of 187 male and female students in the Department of Libraries and Information from three public universities in South Upper Egypt (Qena - Sohag - Aswan). The study used the survey method in its case study aspect and also relied on the personal interview as a supporting tool. The most important results of the study indicated that 58.2% have the intention to start their own entrepreneurial projects after graduation and are not waiting for government jobs. The results also revealed that 60.3% of the study sample were aware of the meaning of entrepreneurship. The results also showed that there is no statistically significant relationship attributed to the gender variable and its relationship to awareness, indicating that both males and females are convinced that entrepreneurship enhances their capabilities and achieves decent income for them. The results also revealed the absence of a course titled "Entrepreneurship" whether compulsory or elective in the study regulations for students, either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level in the universities in the study sample, unlike the regulations of library and information departments in foreign universities, which include one or more courses on entrepreneurship and its skills. The researcher recommends that the departments of libraries and information work on spreading the culture of entrepreneurship among students and integrate an entrepreneurship course into the curriculum, and not only that, but also teach it in a practical way.