The influence of formal entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurship career development among graduates in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
ABSTRACT
Entrepreneurship education provides knowledge, skills and motivations to individuals who have the interest in pursuing their entrepreneurial careers. Entrepreneurship education programmes (EEPs) are offered at different levels, including primary and secondary schools as well as the university. Theoretically, the knowledge obtained from EEPs can encourage individuals to create and develop small business activities. It is through the process of EEPs that drives individuals to entrepreneurial career. Therefore, it is the interest of this study to investigate the extent to which EEPs have influenced on the entrepreneurial career development of graduates in Sabah. This study will be focusing on EEPs that are being offered by the major higher education institutions in Sabah. In investigating the roles of EEPs in influencing the entrepreneurial career of graduates, this study will be focusing on two aspects of EEPs; the entrepreneurial atmosphere and the entrepreneurship curriculum that are available in the selected higher education institutions. This study will be capitalising on mix methods approach. Quantitative method will be utilised to investigate graduates’ experiences in various aspects of EEPs that influences their entrepreneurial career development whereas qualitative method will be used to explore the entrepreneurship curriculum and entrepreneurial atmosphere of the higher education institutions that involved in this study.
This conceptual paper is prepared with the focus to strengthen the research framework of the proposed study.