The impact of entrepreneurship education on students’ entrepreneurial abilities : a case study of a selected University in the Western Cape

Abstract

Tertiary education in South Africa seems to be training students to work hard, produce good results and find jobs in the best organisations, but not to start their own businesses. As such, taking initiative and being innovative seems to be the last task in the young graduate entrepreneurship students mind in South African. At this point, it is unknown why Entrepreneurship graduates do not start their own businesses after graduation. The study investigated the impact of Entrepreneurship Education on students' entrepreneurial abilities in a selected University in the Western Cape in order to generate valuable information in understanding their intention to entrepreneurial activities. Quantitative methods approach was used in this study. The aim of the research was to determine whether the Entrepreneurship students have a clear understanding of how to start and manage their own businesses after graduation. It was found that, regarding entrepreneurial intention, most students in the selected institutions plan to have a secure job first then later on open a business; so, students do not have intend to start their own business after they graduate from school. The research concluded that, the fact of students joining the world of job hunting after graduation and not exercising their competency and ability in entrepreneurial activities will continue to increase the number of student unemployment. It was recommended that entrepreneurship program in the South African education system must add support orientation means in supporting students; also increase the level of exposure to Entrepreneurship students.