Browsing by Author "Mtshali, Thabo Wonder."

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The entrepreneurial intention (EI) of the bachelor of commerce accounting students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
(2019) Mtshali, Thabo Wonder.; Fields, Ziska.
The South African labour market is struggling to create job opportunities for citizens and it is hard to counteract unemployment with relevant skills demanded by various industries. The unemployment rate was 25% in 2015; however, it has increased to 27.7% (Stats SA, 2017). Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in reducing poverty by creating job opportunities. Countries like South Africa should focus on developing young innovative entrepreneurs at university level specifically. Efforts started in 2017 when the Department of Higher Education and Training launched a national student entrepreneurship programme. This is a positive initiative; however, various degrees need to be aligned to this initiative to support the venture theoretically to develop and enhance entrepreneurial thinking, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial action amongst students and graduates. The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) students follow a structured academic program of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This accounting body defines the minimum qualifications and standards expected for accountants. The University of KwaZulu-Natal employs standards and procedures that are in line with SAICA policies. The Accounting degree also focusses specifically on money management modules. The main purpose of this study was to assess the levels of Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) final-year students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention at the Westville campus. The study investigated whether a gap exists between the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) curriculum versus the knowledge and skills required for successful entrepreneurs. The researcher used the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to determine if Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) students are capable and ready to become entrepreneurs. There were 303 Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) final-year students in 2017 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus. From the population of 303 students, a sample size of 170 students was identified to participate in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics to describe the characteristics that are common in the sample. Data analysis tools included mean scores, standard deviation and variance. Inferential statistics were used to compare data between males and females. The reliability of the results on each construct was measured using the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. The results showed that students are willing to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs, but they lack entrepreneurship education to equip them with the necessary skills to start their businesses. The results also revealed that students have positive attitudes towards becoming entrepreneurs, especially when they are supported by family, friends, classmates and society. Even with these positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship, the Perceived Behavioural Control construct showed that students are not likely to start businesses because they lack entrepreneurial skills and have limited knowledge and understanding about operating and managing a business. Despite their strong positive attitude towards starting businesses, students need entrepreneurship education.
Expanding entrepreneurship education to boost students' innovation in South African universities.
(2024) Mtshali, Thabo Wonder.; Gamede, Vangeli Wiseman.; Mashau, Pfano.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused strain on businesses, some have suffered resulting in downsizing staff or closing permanently. The South African unemployment rate currently is at 32.9%. The labour market in South Africa is struggling to create opportunities and failing to counteract unemployment with relevant skills. The pandemic resulted in more people losing jobs which then contributed to the increase in unemployment. The country should reduce poverty by developing innovative entrepreneurs at a tertiary level. These difficulties indicate that people are facing challenges in getting decent jobs due to a lack of skills. Universities have a responsibility to operate entrepreneurially since they are affected by the reduction of public funds, educational market competence, and economic and social changes. Hence, the study focus is expanding entrepreneurship education in South African universities to strengthen the economy and create job opportunities in the country. Entrepreneurship education plays a significant role in educating people about business development and reducing poverty while creating job opportunities using innovation. The aim is to expand university entrepreneurship education by adding entrepreneurship education across all qualifications to help students develop entrepreneurial intention and a positive mindset towards business start-ups. The research focuses on the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Zululand, both located in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The research followed a mixed method. Qualitative data were collected using interviews with academic staff and were analysed using NVIVO thematic analysis programmes. The quantitative data were collected using questionnaires on students and were analysed using SPSS's latest version. The sample size was made up of 371 students and 4 academic staff from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and 348 students and 4 academic staff from the University of Zululand. The researcher got a 99.3 percent response rate from students and staff from both universities. The findings obtained reveal that expanding entrepreneurship education can help stimulate an entrepreneurial mindset and innovation in students. More than 88% of students agree that adding entrepreneurship education to the curriculum will help them stimulate an entrepreneurial mindset. However, students said, “universities do not have adequate infrastructure to support innovation and entrepreneurship education”. Academic staff members believe that higher education must have an active role in introducing and promoting entrepreneurship education because they have strong guiding policies and ideas but unsatisfactory implementation strategies. The research could help develop a curriculum that will stimulate an entrepreneurial mindset in students while exposing the university to industry and other external sponsors. The entrepreneurial spirit needs to be revived amongst students by restructuring various degrees, enhancing entrepreneurial thinking, developing student entrepreneurship programmes, and supporting venture creation. The study recommends expanding entrepreneurship education to give students more career options and employment opportunities. This could give students equal business opportunities and teach students that entrepreneurship can be taken as a career.