UNDERGRADUATES’ PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.

ABSTRACT

This study examined Undergraduates’ perception of the role of Entrepreneurship Education in fostering creativity and innovation. Three research questions gave direction to the study. The descriptive survey was adopted in the study. The population of the study was 14,257 undergraduate students in the University of Benin in the 2023/2024 academic session. A sample of three hundred students was used in the study. They were selected using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument for the study is a questionnaire titled “Undergraduates’ Perception of the Role of Entrepreneurship Education in Fostering Creativity and Innovation” (UPREEFCI) which was used for data collection. The instrument was also validated and reliable. The findings of the study revealed that students are fully aware of the importance of entrepreneurship education. It unveiled that entrepreneurship education aids students in developing practical skill which could be a better alternative outside university education, thus helping to reduce their unemployment level. In addition, students’ sex does not affect their interest or involvement in entrepreneurship education. Finally, students’ course area influences their choice or interest in undergoing or studying specific entrepreneurship skills. The study recommended that Universities should not see entrepreneurship education as courses that must be passed through test, presentations and examinations. Rather, the courses should be assessed based on success recorded by students in their chosen area.