Perceptions about university curriculum and entrepreneurship among university students in public universities in Uganda: A case of Makerere and Kyambogo Universities

Abstract

The study investigated how the University curriculum (a case of Makerere and Kyambogo Universities) prepares University students to be entrepreneurial. The study was conducted in the Colleges of Food Science and Technology; Business and Management Science; and Humanities and Social Sciences of Makerere University; and Department of Economics; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Faculty Education of Kyambogo University. The objectives of the were: to examine how the pedagogical approaches used by university faculty prepare students to be entrepreneurial; to find out how the university curriculum content prepares students to be entrepreneurial; and to examine how programme values prepare students to be entrepreneurial. The study was largely based on the qualitative paradigm and employed an interpretive design drawing on two cases that is Makerere and Kyambogo Universities. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, an interview guide and scrutiny of documents. Data was analysed by coding, categorising and developing themes as well as critical analysis. The findings revealed that the university curriculum imparted by the lecturers as well as the pedagogical approaches they employed in delivering the curriculum did not effectively prepare university students to be entrepreneurial. Also, the findings revealed that some of the lecturers from those that were interviewed were not aware of the current labour market requirements that employers expect the graduates to possess. It was therefore recommended that universities should engage as much as possible the business community in developing the curriculum content such that relevant entrepreneurial knowledge and skills that are fit for the labour market are imparted to the students.