Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Education with entrepreneurship: a study of student entrepreneurship at the University of Zimbabwe
Author:Maphosa, FranceISNI
Year:1999
Periodical:Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research (ISSN 1013-3445)
Volume:11
Issue:3
Period:November
Pages:159-182
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Zimbabwe
Southern Africa
Subjects:entrepreneurs
pupils
education
Entrepreneurship
Small business
Student participation
University of Zimbabwe
Abstract:Because Zimbabwe is plagued by a poorly performing economy there is a mass of educated youth who cannot be absorbed by the job market. The focus of education and training programmes has been on job seekers. Present economic and political thinking stresses the need to develop small enterprises and encourage self-employment. This study deals with student entrepreneurs at the University of Zimbabwe and investigates the constraints on their businesses. Data was collected from a sample of 15 entrepreneurs involved in a great variety of business ventures operated from within or without the campus. Students did not perceive obligations to their extended families as an obstacle to their business performance. Most of the young entrepreneurs did not consider their programmes of study to have any relevance to their business endeavours. The main constraint is a lack of start-up capital. The author concludes that the enterprises are a nucleus for viable small to medium scale businesses. It is recommended that educational programmes targeting those who have the experience and the desire to be self-employed are put in place. Such programmes should aim at confidence and capacity building. There should also be programmes aimed at developing an entrepreneurial culture among all students, broadening entrepreneurial activity at the university. The university needs to revise its curriculum in order to increase its relevance in an environment of increasing graduate unemployment. App. (text of the questionnaire), bibliogr., sum.