Critical Analysis of Entrepeneurship Education on SMES Development in Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education can cultivate a student's attitudes and intentions, as well as the founding of a new firm that will thrive and grow. If this happens then the chances of enterprise closure will stop, jobs will be created and this will enhance economic development. The general objective of this study was to determine the influence of entrepreneurship education on enterprise performance. The measurement of entrepreneurial propensity in students across the curriculum, may not be viable, but this could be done through assessing the performance of SMEs whose owners have gone through entrepreneurship training.

Social Cognitive Career Theory was applied to study the linkages between educational experiences (both curricular and extracurricular) and the motivational processes underlying a student's movement in entrepreneurial behaviour.   Purposive and Snowball sampling methods were applied in identifying the respondents. The   questionnaire was then applied to those identified to gather data from the 20 respondents. Regression analysis was applied on variables, and the study found a multiple R of 61% which indicates a positive correlation between enterprise performance and the independent variables. This correlation is weak though. The hypothesis tested showed there is statistical significance between enterprise performance and entrepreneurship education. This therefore means that entrepreneurship education should continue to be taught at all levels.