Prioritisation of the Practical Component of Higher Education Entrepreneurship Education

Entrepreneurship is globally accepted as a critical component of national and local development. Research has become increasingly interested in the various ways in which entrepreneurial activity can be realized. This study was formulated to explore the perspectives of students of entrepreneurship at a selected University on the prioritization of the practical component in their studies. The prioritisation of the practical component of entrepreneurial education was deemed to be important in enhancing the transition of entrepreneurial intentions to real entrepreneurial activity. The specific study question was: How can the practical component of the entrepreneurship course be effectively implemented for entrepreneurial intentions to become real entrepreneurship practice among graduates? The study adopted a focus group discussion technique for data collection involving fourteen (14) students of entrepreneurship in their final year. The results showed that the students felt there was a need to shift from classroom-based teaching to a more practically oriented and industry-linked form of entrepreneurship education. The students also suggested the relevance of blending practical activities with entrepreneurship theory or starting entrepreneurship education with practicals for the learners to realize the value of hands-on activities early. The results of the study also indicated the need for contextually relevant entrepreneurial education that is based on the ubuntu principle of African societies. Students felt entrepreneurship education should strengthen such attitudes as resilience, hard work and perseverance which the learners acquired early in their families.