Entrepreneurship skills application among ICT Graduates of Muni University, Uganda
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kabale University Interdisciplinary Research Journal (KURJ)
Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the acquisition and application levels of entrepreneurial skills acquired by ICT
graduates from Muni University. This study specifically: identifies the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University
ICT Graduates; assess the entrepreneurial competency levels of Muni University ICT Graduates; examines the impact
of the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University ICT Graduates; evaluates the gaps in the entrepreneurial
skills acquired among Muni University ICT Graduates. Questionnaires were administered to a population of 60 former
students of Bachelor of Information Systems and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology who graduated
from Muni University under the faculty of Technoscience. The graduates that formed the study population were
selected, based on their online-availability, from two graduation cohorts of 2017 and 2018. Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS) (v.21) program was used to analyse the data. The research instrument was reliable at Chronbach’s
alpha 0.960. The results of the study identified that the key entrepreneurship skills acquired by Muni University
ICT graduates are: innovativeness; business and economic management; human relations and interpersonal skills;
and communication skills. The study assessed the entrepreneurial competency levels of ICT graduates of Muni
University rated against the industrial expectations. The results show that the graduates are competent in: computer
literacy and information technology (ICT applications); creativity, innovation and opportunity identification; life
skills (problem solving, time management, decision making, ability to learn and change management); literacy and
numeracy among others. The study examined the impact of the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University
ICT Graduates and the results show that the graduates had: advanced in their career; acquired jobs; interest in
setting their own business; the required knowledge to start businesses; demonstrated innovativeness and problemsolving
ability. The study also evaluated the gaps in entrepreneurship skills acquired by ICT graduates of Muni
University and the results indicate that the graduates had challenges in: getting finances or loans for starting a new
business venture; communications like returning phone calls and emails; taking lead in a group and risk management.
The ICT curriculum designers in Muni University should use the findings of this research to improve the curriculum
in the courses that relate to entrepreneurship. There is need for the entrepreneurship learning facilitators to: train
learners in numerical problem solving; equip learners with information and knowledge on business proposal writing
and securing start-up finances; encourage learners to run and grow new business ventures. Acquisition of innovative
skills such as creativity, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills to ICT students for job creation should
be upheld. In conclusion, ICT graduates of Muni University obtain the necessary entrepreneurial skills required by the
ICT entrepreneurial industry. There is a need to continuously conduct more similar studies with other subsequent
graduates in order to track the application of entrepreneurial skills by the ICT graduates of Muni University. The
researchers also recommend an establishment of system to track Muni University alumni.
Description
Keywords
Entrepreneurship skills, Acquisition and Application of ICT, Muni University, Uganda