Entrepreneurship education.

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is gaining popularity for reasons which include: people choose entrepreneurship as an alternate career and governments around the world have started to recognize the economic impact that entrepreneurship has in stimulating economies and reducing unemployment. Another reason for the growth and importance of entrepreneurship is the wide spread nature of capitalism that presents business opportunities. With the high unemployment rates in South Africa one would think that entrepreneurship ranks high on the agenda of students and service providers. The aim of the study was to investigate the quality of entrepreneurship and highlight the effects of entrepreneurship education on students to the point of determining firstly if there is a need for entrepreneurship education and secondly, if such education yields benefits and greater success for entrepreneurs. As entrepreneurship exponentially gains momentum the desire for knowledge to harness raw entrepreneurship into sustainable and growth business comes to light. Schools, Universities and other educational institutions in developed and developing countries are all embracing the culture of entrepreneurship. A non probability, convenience sample of 190 students at the Graduate School of Business, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal were chosen to answer a questionnaire designed to evaluate the nature, benefits and to check if there is a need for entrepreneurship education. One hundred and twenty one respondents completed the questionnaire. The study revealed that entrepreneurship is important and education can play a role in fostering and harnessing entrepreneurship. The study illustrates areas of improvements for the courses. This study benefits students who are considering entrepreneurship as an alternate career and service providers who offer entrepreneurship education.