Title:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CAMEROON: PERSPECTIVES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Authors:
Prof. Vukenkeng Andrew Wujung and Forbe Hodu Ngangnchi, PhD, Cameroon

Abstract:
Cameroon like many African nations is blessed with abundant resources that requires entrepreneurial creativity and innovation to translate them into meaningful economic growth and development inputs. It has been observed that the Higher education curriculum on entrepreneurship education is largely limited to strengthening attitudes and business plan execution, but the type of trainers in the area of entrepreneurship is also questionable. Against this background, an evaluation of the teaching of entrepreneurship in higher educational institutions in Cameroon was imperative. More specifically, this study set out to examine the intuitional characteristics, the methods used in teaching entrepreneurship, and the content of entrepreneurship taught in higher educational intuitions of learning in Cameroon. Data on the above aspects was obtained through a survey and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis revealed that Institutional Characteristics exerts a positive effect on entrepreneurship education outcomes. Similarly, the Rank of Lecturer is investigated as a potential factor influencing entrepreneurship education outcomes. Although the t-value (-1.63) suggests a negative relationship, the p-value (0.107) exceeds the conventional threshold of 0.10, indicating no statistically significant effect. The Approaches/Method of teaching variable showed a statistically significant effect on entrepreneurship education outcomes. On the other hand, the Content taught variable did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship with entrepreneurship education outcomes. From a policy perspective, the content to be taught should revolve around starting, owning, managing, and sustaining a business. Strengthen collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, industry associations, and financial institutions to create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and consequently the approaches will be more efficient.