Entrepreneurship education as a strategy for the promotion of entrepreneurship culture and poverty reduction among university students.

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is very crucial in the growth and development of the economy, social development, economic competitiveness, job creation as well as enhancement of social welfare and poverty reduction. South Africa has consistently assumed a very poor position in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey in terms of entrepreneurial activity. It is clear that South Africa is not producing a sufficiently entrepreneurial economy and this need to be addressed so as to create employment, expand markets, increase production and revitalize communities so as to reduce poverty. This study investigated entrepreneurship education as a viable tool for the promotion of entrepreneurship among university students for poverty reduction in South Africa. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether entrepreneurship education will be used as a viable tool to promote entrepreneurship among University students to tackle the problems of poverty in South Africa. Quantitative research design was adopted in conducting this study. The study employed both primary and secondary data sources. The primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling method where a sample size of 374 was selected from a sample frame of 13,331 thousand students. Five-point Likert scale was used to measure the responses. Data analysis methods used include descriptive statistics, one sample statistic test, Chi-square tests and independent t-test. The validity and reliability of the research instrument and the findings were assured through pilot study and Cronbach alpha reliability test. The results indicate that there is positive attitude towards entrepreneurship among university students, entrepreneurship education improves and promote self-reliance and self-independence, entrepreneurship education improves entrepreneurial competencies, promotes entrepreneurship culture and reduces poverty. Recommendations to reduce poverty in South Africa using entrepreneurship education were suggested to the government, government agencies, policy makers and private businesses.