Perception of Entrepreneurial training beyond the domain of undergraduate programme in Estate Management and Valuation

Abstract

Undergraduates at the Federal Polytechnic Idah in Nigeria are trained in vocations outside their domain programmes in connection with the entrepreneurship development course as pre-requisite for their graduation. This study assessed students' perception of entrepreneurship training in vocations beyond those taught within the core estate management and valuation curriculum. Unit of analysis was the 2014/2015 HND II estate management and valuation class. Questionnaires were administered to a stratified random sample of 40 students drawn from a sample frame of 70 students. Data harnessed from administered questionnaire were analyzed using percentiles, mean score of ordinal responses, one-way ANOVA and the chi-square test of goodness of fit. A consensus among the students towards combining a vocational trade with a career in estate management and valuation was affirmed from the chi-square test of hypothesis. Contrary to generic skills like product/services marketing, self-confidence, and motivation, the study found that vocational skills tutors place little emphasis on the teaching of problem solving, and teamwork and collaboration. These vocational skills tutors were urged to accord more importance to the teaching of these generic skills in order to provide emerging entrepreneurs with value-added transferrable skills.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Estate management and valuation, Generic skills, Undergraduate, Vocational skill