Determinants influencing the performance of entrepreneurship education in public universities in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the performance of entrepreneurship education in public universities in Kenya with a view to instill entrepreneurship culture to enhance job creation and minimize poverty. The Specific objective were; to assess teaching approaches to entrepreneurship education, to find out the relevance of the entrepreneurship education curriculum, to assess the effectiveness of delivery of entrepreneurship education and the effects of entrepreneurship education on the target beneficiaries. In order to achieve the objectives of the study qualitative and quantitative research was used. The research design used in this study was descriptive survey. The target population was two hundred and fifty students and former students from JKUAT, Kenyatta University and University of Nairobi.

The sampling methods that were adopted were both probability and non-probability sampling. Since the study was concerned with the relationship between the identified dependent and independent variables, the regression and ANOVA analysis were used to analyze the relationship between them. The results of the ANOVA analysis shows there was a strong relationship between the variab les of study and performance. All the Null hypotheses of the study which were tested were rejected, showing that a relationship existed between the four variables of study and performance.

From the results presented the lecturers for the undergraduate use mostly lecture method, followed by experience stories, discussion and the use of case studies and guest speakers rarely used. Also lecturers prefer written classroom tests followed by term papers, group presentation and project work.

The researcher recommends incubation centers be introduced in all the public universities so that the students who come up with good ideas may be nurtured there. An association of the lecturers teaching entrepreneurship in public universities needs to be formed. This should include the representatives from the Private sector and other stakeholders to address the challenges faced when teaching entrepreneurship also entrepreneurship unit need to be introduced to the student when they are in the first year, so that they may develop the attribute necessary for self employment and change their attitudes early enough.