Practical business education components and production of graduates for the global workforce in public universities in Cross River State

Abstract This study examined the influence of practical components of Business Education on the production of globally competitive graduates in public universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study focused on practical training in Accounting Education, Entrepreneurship Education, Office Management Education, and Marketing and Distributive Education. A descriptive survey design was adopted, drawing data from final-year Business Education students in the two public universities in the state through a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using appropriate inferential statistical techniques to determine the individual and joint effects of the practical components on graduate global competitiveness. The findings indicate that practical components in Accounting Education, Entrepreneurship Education, and Marketing and Distributive Education significantly enhance the production of globally competitive graduates, while Office Management Education did not demonstrate a significant influence in its current form. The combined effect of all four practical components was also significant, highlighting the value of integrated practical training in Business Education programmes. The study contributes to business education scholarship by providing empirical evidence on how complementary practical components jointly shape graduate readiness for the global workforce. It offers practical insights for curriculum development by identifying priority areas for strengthening hands-on training and repositioning Office Management Education to better align with contemporary global competence demands.