The Influence of Entrepreneurship Workshop Programme on Entrepreneurial Intentions of Technology and Vocational Education Students in Public Universities in Anambra State

Abstract

The growing concern for innovation, job creation and economic growth has led to the inclusion of entrepreneurship education into Nigerian tertiary institutions' curriculum. Does the programme achieve the aim necessitated by the study? This study investigates the influence of the entrepreneurship workshop programme on entrepreneurial intentions of technology and vocational education students in public universities in Anambra State Nigeria. One research question guided the study, and one hypothesis was tested. The study employed a correlational research design, and 104 Technology and Vocational Education students in the 400 level were sampled. The instrument for data collection was a 5-point rating scale questionnaire titled “Entrepreneurship Workshop Programme and Entrepreneurial Intentions Questionnaire”. The instrument contains 15 items of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Neutral (N), Strongly Disagree (SD) and Disagree(D). The instrument was validated by two experts in business education. The reliability of the instrument was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha and a reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained. The data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Simple Linear Regression. PPMCC statistics were performed to answer the research questions. Simple linear regression statistics were performed to test the hypothesis on the relationship and prediction. The decision criteria for the use of PPMCC were based on the range of coefficient value (r), and when a coefficient r-value was positive correlation; it meant that as one variable increases, the other increases. The null hypothesis was determined using regression estimates, 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that a low positive relationship exists between the entrepreneurship workshop programme and entrepreneurial intentions among TVE students in public universities in Anambra State, Nigeria. Also, the findings revealed that the entrepreneurship workshop programme has a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial intentions of TVE students in public universities in Anambra State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the more students are exposed to the entrepreneurship workshop programme, the more they develop the desire to become an entrepreneur. It was therefore recommended among others that management of public universities should ensure that entrepreneurship programmes are regularly organized for students to develop EI for the establishment of their businesses upon graduation