Does entrepreneurship education invigorate opportunity recognition and exploitation?

Background: Entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth and innovation, and educational institutions, particularly technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, play a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurial skills. Aim: This study examined the relationship between entrepreneurship education, opportunity recognition and exploitation. Setting: The research was conducted among the students at the selected TVET college in the North West province, South Africa. The study focussed on the students enrolled in N5 to N6 levels under business management and marketing management programmes because they have a background in entrepreneurship and business management. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire. A non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample size consisted of 151 completed questionnaires. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Smart-PLS software to identify correlations between the constructs. Results: The findings indicate a positive correlation between the quality of entrepreneurship education and the ability to recognise and exploit opportunities. The results imply that the students who receive comprehensive entrepreneurship education, demonstrate a higher propensity to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities. Conclusion: The results emphasise the importance of entrepreneurship education in equipping TVET college students with skills critical for opportunity recognition and exploitation. Efforts should be vested in the integration of entrepreneurship education into other non-business-related study programmes. Contribution: This research adds to literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of entrepreneurship education in TVET colleges, emphasising the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and policymakers in fostering entrepreneurial development.