Entrepreneurship education integration in higher education: Fostering skill development, and employability

Abstract

In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements and evolving economic landscapes, higher education institutions are tasked with preparing students not only for established career paths but also for the dynamic and innovative demands of the modern workforce. The primary objective of this research was to examine whether entrepreneurship education influenced students' acquisition of practical skills that are not only relevant to entrepreneurship but also transferable across a range of professional contexts. By adopting a mixed-methods approach encompassing qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, this study aimed to explore how entrepreneurship education influenced the development of entrepreneurial skills, leading to employability. The skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, and whether these skills led to employability, and their capacity to excel in diverse employment environments. The employment environments and/or activities undertaken included startups, established businesses, and non-entrepreneurial settings. The study used purposive sampling to select 25 students for a quantitative survey and 5 students for semi-structured interviews from three universities in the Khomas region. Further, the study adopted a pragmatic paradigm and guided by the human capital and experiential learning theories. Data collected from the survey were analysed descriptively through tables, while that from semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically. The results of the study showed that the students’ perceptions towards entrepreneurship were positive. The findings of this research have the potential to contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on higher education's role in preparing graduates for a rapidly changing job market.