Prof. Dr. Đerđi Erđeš-Kavečan, from the Faculty of Organizational Studies Eduka at the University Business Academy in Novi Sad, participated in the 6th International Online Conference "Individual, Family, Society – Contemporary Challenges", held on October 6 and 7, 2025, organized by the Francisc I. Rainer Institute of Anthropology of the Romanian Academy of Sciences and partner universities from Italy and Mexico.
On this occasion, she presented a paper titled "Assessment of Entrepreneurial Abilities, Achievement Motivation, and General Health of Future Preschool Teachers", which explores the relationship between entrepreneurial abilities, achievement motivation, and general health among future preschool teachers.
The research was conducted on a sample of 133 students enrolled in preschool teacher training programs. The results showed that students perceive themselves as fairly entrepreneurial, especially in areas such as goal setting, persistence, and competitiveness. At the same time, the most common health challenges were identified, with symptoms of depression, somatization, and anxiety standing out. Data analysis indicated a strong positive correlation between achievement motivation and entrepreneurial abilities, as well as a negative correlation between general health and both entrepreneurial abilities and achievement motivation, suggesting that mental health may be an important factor that both stimulates and limits the entrepreneurial potential of future preschool teachers.
The findings of this research emphasize the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in education, while simultaneously strengthening motivation and promoting mental health among students. Developing psychological resilience, self-initiative, and creativity contributes to forming competent, proactive, and innovative professionals ready to respond to modern challenges in working with children and within the education system as a whole.
Participation in this international event contributed to the exchange of knowledge and experience among researchers and educators from different countries, as well as to strengthening international cooperation of the Faculty of Organizational Studies Eduka. Such forms of cooperation enable the development of new research initiatives, the improvement of teaching practices, and the promotion of domestic scientific achievements within the international academic community.
