ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

Several decades of ongoing developments in entrepreneurship education have significantly influenced higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Consequently, there is a growing call for entrepreneurship education to be widely offered to students across various disciplines. Recognized as a key driver of sustainable growth and development, entrepreneurship education plays a crucial role in shaping a country's economic landscape. This study aims to examine the impact of entrepreneurship education on developing entrepreneurial competencies and stimulating entrepreneurial intentions among South African students. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, data were collected from 136 final-year students enrolled in Business and Administration programs at government-funded universities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The results indicate that the entrepreneurship education curricula at these universities are still in their developmental stages. Furthermore, the findings reveal that public HEIs in South Africa incorporate entrepreneurship education as part of their strategy to combat unemployment. The study concludes that entrepreneurship education curricula are essential for developing entrepreneurial competencies in students and suggests that participation in entrepreneurship education activities can enhance the entrepreneurial abilities of South African students