Like most developing countries in Africa, Botswana faces problems such as graduates unemployment, poverty and collapse of some businesses owned by graduates. These problems caused major challenges to the government which therefore called for the researcher’s investigation of graduates’ views on the introduction of entrepreneurship, research and business management programme. This is expected to evoke graduates’ thirst for entrepreneurial engagement, thus reduce unemployment and poverty in the country.
The nation experiences a high rate of unemployment of graduates youth, which is assumed to be due to lack of entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and competencies in majority of the potential entrepreneurs. Mixed method was conducted to determine the perception of graduates on the introduction of entrepreneurship, research and business management as a remedy for unemployment and poverty.
The study design used in this study includes pragmatic, quantitative, deductive research, survey strategy and cross sectional horizon. The study also used semi-structured interview and administered survey questionnaires. Furthermore, the research used concurrent triangulation design method, qualitative and quantitative data analysis in the study. The correlation test and chi-square statistical analysis was used. The study assessed the need for introducing entrepreneurship, research and business management programme in public tertiary institutions in Botswana.
The results of the study revealed that entrepreneurship, research and business management programme serve as a vehicle for the attainment of the right entrepreneurial personality, knowledge and skills for graduates willing to venture into entrepreneurship.
This programme is one of the crucial vehicles as it was said to be beneficial to graduates. It shed light on the position entrepreneurship, research and business management education play in stimulating the spirit of entrepreneurship, research and management of businesses among graduates from public institutions.
The results of this study aimed to assist the government in ascertaining whether offering entrepreneurship programme in public tertiary institutions offers a way to the growth of the country’s economy, as such, reducing unemployment and poverty.
Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Entrepreneurship Education
2.2 Benefits of combining Entrepreneurship, research and business management
2.3 Importance of Entrepreneurship, Research and Business Management Education
2.4 Importance of Research Education
2.5 Entrepreneurial learning
2.6 Issues in Entrepreneurship Education Curriculum
2.7 Contents of teaching
2.8 Methods of Teaching Entrepreneurship Education
2.9 The benefits of entrepreneurship, research and business management to existing and Potential entrepreneurs
2.10 Entrepreneurship Education
2.11 Impact of Entrepreneurship education Graduates
2.12 Problems of entrepreneurship Education
2.14 Importance of Business Management Education
2.15 Challenges facing graduates students from venturing into business
2.16 Strategies that infuse thirst for starting own businesses by tertiary institutions Graduates
3.0 INTRODUCTION
3.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS REINSTATEMENT
3.2 RESEARCH QUESTION
3.4 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY AND PARADIGM
3.4.1 Research Philosophy
3.4.2 Research Approach
3.4.3 Inductive and Deductive Approaches
3.5 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
3.6 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
3.7 SURVEY RESEARCH
3.8 EXPLORATORY STUDIES
3.8.1 Investigative research
3.8.2 Experimental Research
3.9 RESEARCH TIME HORIZON
3.10 RESEARCH PARADIGM
3.11 PRAGMATISM PARADIGM
3.12 RATIONALE FOR USING THE MIXED METHOD RESEARCH
3.13 RATIONALE FOR SURVEY RESEARCH (QUANTITATIVE)
3.14 RATIONALE FOR INTERVIEW (QUALITATIVE)
3.15 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.15.1 Population Of The Study
3.15.2 Sample Population
3.15.3 Sample and Sampling Method
3.16. DATA AND COLLECTION PROCEDURES
3.16.1. Primary Data
3.16.2. Secondary Data
3.16.3. Questionnaire Development
3.16.4. Interview Development
3.16.5 Return Rate
3.17 DATA ANALYSIS METHODS
3.17.1. Quantitative data analysis
3.17.3. Qualitative Data Analysis
3.18 RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
3.18.1 Reliability
3.18.2 Validity
3.18.3 Trustworthiness
3.19 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
3.20 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Main Research Question
4.1.1 Research Specific Questions
4.2 Participants Demographic Characteristics
4.2.1 Analysis of Demographic Data
4.3 HYPOTHESIS TESTING
4.4 Summary of Study Findings
5.1 Introduction
5.1.1 Main Research Question
5.1.2 Research Specific Questions
5.2 Discussion of the finding of the study
5.2.1 Introduction of ERBM encourages the quest for entrepreneurship
5.2.2 Benefits of Entrepreneurship, Research and Business Management
5.2.3 Problems and factors hindering graduates from starting their own business
5.2.4 Strategies to use to improve graduates’ quest for entrepreneurship
5.3 Conclusion on the Study Objectives
5.4 Recommendations
5.5 Implicaitons of the Study to Research, Theory and Practice
5.5.1 Contributions to Research
5.5.2 Contribution to Theory
5.5.3 Contribution to Policy
5.6 Direction of future Research
5.7 Limitations of the Study
5.8 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this research is to evaluate whether a standalone program in entrepreneurship, research, and business management is necessary at the tertiary level in Botswana to effectively encourage entrepreneurial spirit, create jobs, and reduce poverty among graduates. The study explores the effectiveness of such a program by examining the perceptions of graduates and lecturers, identifying current curriculum gaps, and investigating factors that hinder business ventures.
- Assessment of the current state of entrepreneurship education in public tertiary institutions.
- Identification of barriers preventing graduates from launching their own business ventures.
- Analysis of the perceived benefits of a standalone entrepreneurship, research, and business management curriculum.
- Development of strategies to improve educational delivery, mentorship, and support for graduate entrepreneurs.
Excerpt from the Book
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This study looked at entrepreneurship, research and business management education (ERBM) which can be used as remedies for unemployment and poverty in Botswana. Research has shown a worldwide continual growth of entrepreneurial education in higher institutions (Kuratko, 2005). Though some researchers paid more attention on entrepreneurship education, this has been based on teaching entrepreneurship as an embedded unit in different programmes, which does not fully equip learners with relevant skills into starting their own businesses. Lackeus (2015) observed how there is a large gap to be filled for countries to thrive in making effective and proficient entrepreneurial education available to many in the educational systems. Entrepreneurship, research and business management programme would benefit potential graduates’ entrepreneurs in their quest to engage in entrepreneurial activities. Like other developing countries, Botswana is striving to build a knowledge based economy (vision 2036). Quite a large number of graduates and those who were not priveledged to go through tertiary education are unemployed which results in an increase on poverty cases. The situation is pitiable as universities, tertiary institutions and brigades are producing a large number of graduates annually and these graduates have no place to go. Abraham, Adebayo and Adekunele (2016) attested that lack of employment shows that labour is unutilized as those who are willing to get employment and work could not get that opportunity.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides an introduction to the research, outlining the context of graduate unemployment in Botswana and the purpose of evaluating an ERBM program.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews existing literature on entrepreneurship education, research trends, and the benefits of business management training in fostering economic growth.
CHAPTER THREE: Details the methodology, including the rationale for the mixed-methods approach, research philosophy, data collection procedures, and validation techniques.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents the findings and interpretation of data gathered from questionnaires and interviews regarding student perceptions of entrepreneurship training.
CHAPTER 5: Concludes the study by discussing findings, offering recommendations for policymakers, and suggesting directions for future research.
Keywords
Entrepreneurship, research, business management, graduate unemployment, poverty reduction, job creation, education, Botswana, tertiary institutions, mixed-method research, curriculum development, entrepreneurial skills, self-employment, vocational training, economic development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this doctoral thesis?
The thesis investigates whether implementing a standalone program in entrepreneurship, research, and business management in Botswana's public tertiary institutions can effectively act as a remedy for high rates of graduate unemployment and poverty.
What are the key themes addressed in the research?
Key themes include the impact of entrepreneurship education, curriculum effectiveness, factors hindering business startup, the role of research in business management, and strategies for improving graduate readiness for self-employment.
What is the primary goal of the study?
The primary goal is to determine the necessity of a standalone ERBM curriculum and to identify if such training encourages graduates to successfully transition into self-employment rather than relying solely on the formal labor market.
What research methodology was employed?
The researcher utilized a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative survey data from graduates with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with lecturers to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The work covers a literature review on global and local entrepreneurship trends, an analysis of current pedagogical gaps, the research design and implementation, and a statistical interpretation of findings regarding graduate perceptions and barriers to business creation.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as entrepreneurship education, graduate unemployment, poverty reduction, job creation, business management, and curriculum reform.
How does the program propose to address the "gap" in existing education?
The study suggests that current programs often embed entrepreneurship as a minor module, whereas a standalone, practically-oriented program would better equip graduates with the specific skills, risk-management capabilities, and innovative mindset required for successful business ownership.
What are the specific challenges highlighted by graduates in the study?
Graduates identified significant barriers, including lack of initial capital, restricted access to land for business operations, a deficiency in practical business management skills, and a lack of mentorship and market research knowledge.
What is the role of the "Pragmatism Paradigm" in this research?
The pragmatism paradigm serves as the philosophical framework, allowing the researcher to utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to address the research questions holistically rather than being restricted to a single methodological tradition.
What recommendations does the author make for policymakers?
The author recommends the development of national strategies to support self-employment, continuous investment in specialized training for educators, and the creation of business incubation centers within tertiary institutions to foster practical experience for students.
- Citar trabajo
- Nametsegang Tonkope (Autor), 2018, Entrepreneurship, Research And Business Management. Remedies For Unemployment And Poverty Reduction In Botswana, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/453320
