Entrepreneurship Education, Environmental Dynamisms and Entrepreneurial Propensity Among University Students In Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the moderation between environmental dynamisms and entrepreneurship education in inculcating entrepreneurial propensity among University students in Kenya. The study has shown that environmental dynamism moderates entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial propensity. Universities can benefit from adapting to environmental dynamisms in their quest to teach entrepreneurship and create employment for entrepreneurship grandaunts. Globalization, market changes and technology leads to market imperfections leading to the formation entrepreneurial opportunities. Entrepreneurial dynamisms lead to entrepreneurial propensity facilitating a change in attitude and resulting to a behavioural change towards entrepreneurship. The study tested the null hypotheses, teaching method, educators' network, entrepreneurship curriculum and entrepreneurial ecosystem no relationship with entrepreneurial propensity among entrepreneurship University students in Kenya and the null hypothesis that environmental dynamism does not moderate between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial propensity among University students in Kenya. Realism philosophy approach was used and a mixed method research design was adopted in the study. Experiential, Human capital, entrepreneurial passion and planned behaviour were theories upon which the study was based. The target population for the study were University students who were in their fourth year of study. A simple random method was used for data collection. A self 'administered, semi structured questionnaires was used to collect primary data while the secondary data was obtained from published sources such as library, internet and research done by other scholars. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze the collected data with the assistance of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, and Smart Pis software. Analyses were conducted using a two- phase process consisting of confirmatory measurement model and confirmatory structural model. Also moderated multiple regression (MMR) analysis was carried out by comparing ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model and MMR model. For Goodness of fit, RMS theta, NFI and SRMSR were the software used to test the fitness indices. The study found that teaching methods, educators' network, entrepreneurship curriculum and entrepreneurial ecosystem were individually significant predictors of entrepreneurial propensity with entrepreneurial ecosystem being the strongest predictor out of the three. The result also revealed that environmental dynamisms (ED) significantly moderated the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial propensity. Overall, the study demonstrated a positive relationship between environmental dynamism and entrepreneurial propensity. The study recommended a review of the methods used to teach entrepreneurship and the educators' network enhanced. The curriculum forms the basis for educator networks and teaching method hence the study recommended a review of entrepreneurship curriculum by curriculum developers. The study also recognized the important role played by entrepreneurial ecosystem hence the need to create an enabling ecosystem for entrepreneurship development. The study recognized that entrepreneurs operate under uncertainties in the environment hence the need to be proactive if an entrepreneurial propensity is to be inculcated among University students in Kenya. The study did not follow up with respondents who indicated that they were inclined toward entrepreneurship really became entrepreneurs. This was left as a gap for future research.