Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?

Background: Entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth and innovation, and educational institutions, particularly technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, play a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurial skills. Aim: This study examined the relationship between entrep...

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Main Authors: Ralebitso K. Letshaba, Brian N. Mahosi, Ayanda Sibiya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-06-01
Series:The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajesbm.co.za/index.php/sajesbm/article/view/1068
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author Ralebitso K. Letshaba
Brian N. Mahosi
Ayanda Sibiya
author_facet Ralebitso K. Letshaba
Brian N. Mahosi
Ayanda Sibiya
author_sort Ralebitso K. Letshaba
collection DOAJ
description Background: Entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth and innovation, and educational institutions, particularly technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, play a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurial skills. Aim: This study examined the relationship between entrepreneurship education, opportunity recognition and exploitation. Setting: The research was conducted among the students at the selected TVET college in the North West province, South Africa. The study focussed on the students enrolled in N5 to N6 levels under business management and marketing management programmes because they have a background in entrepreneurship and business management. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire. A non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample size consisted of 151 completed questionnaires. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Smart-PLS software to identify correlations between the constructs. Results: The findings indicate a positive correlation between the quality of entrepreneurship education and the ability to recognise and exploit opportunities. The results imply that the students who receive comprehensive entrepreneurship education, demonstrate a higher propensity to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities. Conclusion: The results emphasise the importance of entrepreneurship education in equipping TVET college students with skills critical for opportunity recognition and exploitation. Efforts should be vested in the integration of entrepreneurship education into other non-business-related study programmes. Contribution: This research adds to literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of entrepreneurship education in TVET colleges, emphasising the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and policymakers in fostering entrepreneurial development.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2522-7343
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series The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
spelling doaj-art-6927d357cf604e77843e72c8fa24d7762025-08-20T03:29:15ZengAOSISThe Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management2522-73432071-31852025-06-01171e1e910.4102/sajesbm.v17i1.1068207Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?Ralebitso K. Letshaba0Brian N. Mahosi1Ayanda Sibiya2Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgDepartment of Applied Management, College of Economic Management Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaDepartment of Business Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgBackground: Entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth and innovation, and educational institutions, particularly technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, play a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurial skills. Aim: This study examined the relationship between entrepreneurship education, opportunity recognition and exploitation. Setting: The research was conducted among the students at the selected TVET college in the North West province, South Africa. The study focussed on the students enrolled in N5 to N6 levels under business management and marketing management programmes because they have a background in entrepreneurship and business management. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire. A non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample size consisted of 151 completed questionnaires. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Smart-PLS software to identify correlations between the constructs. Results: The findings indicate a positive correlation between the quality of entrepreneurship education and the ability to recognise and exploit opportunities. The results imply that the students who receive comprehensive entrepreneurship education, demonstrate a higher propensity to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities. Conclusion: The results emphasise the importance of entrepreneurship education in equipping TVET college students with skills critical for opportunity recognition and exploitation. Efforts should be vested in the integration of entrepreneurship education into other non-business-related study programmes. Contribution: This research adds to literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of entrepreneurship education in TVET colleges, emphasising the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and policymakers in fostering entrepreneurial development.https://sajesbm.co.za/index.php/sajesbm/article/view/1068entrepreneurshipentrepreneurship educationopportunity recognitionopportunity exploitationtvet college.
spellingShingle Ralebitso K. Letshaba
Brian N. Mahosi
Ayanda Sibiya
Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
entrepreneurship
entrepreneurship education
opportunity recognition
opportunity exploitation
tvet college.
title Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
title_full Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
title_fullStr Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
title_full_unstemmed Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
title_short Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?
title_sort does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation
topic entrepreneurship
entrepreneurship education
opportunity recognition
opportunity exploitation
tvet college.
url https://sajesbm.co.za/index.php/sajesbm/article/view/1068
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