INNOVATION IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION THROUGH COMPETITION BASED LEARNING ROLE: STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF SOFT SKILLS

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of the study is to critically analyze the impact of entrepreneurial competitions on the soft skills of Omani students. Design/methodology/approach: Purposive sampling methodology was adopted to perform the study. A sample of 125 students was selected among the 450 students from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who participated in the entrepreneurship competition. The questionnaire was distributed two times to the students before and after the competition and 110 fully completed questionnaires only were taken into the research study. Using SPSS, statistical tests like non-parametric chi-square test, t-paired sample test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were carried out the results were interpreted. Findings: The findings of the empirical study suggest that competitions have a positive impact on the students’ soft skills and their mindset after participating in the competitions. The study also confirmed that competition is an encouraging affair that makes the students learn new skills and new developments in the business fields. Further, the study also confirmed that competition makes it easy to explore the labor market in the area of requirements. Research limitations/Implications: HEIs should motivate and encourage students to participate in various entrepreneurial competitions inducing a spirit of entrepreneurship among the young students to enhance their soft skills for self-sufficiency and to identify the potentialities vested within them. Social implications: The study suggests that to improve the entrepreneurial mindsets of young students, and universities. Originality/Value Only a very few have examined the role of entrepreneurship education in developing soft skills through competition-based learning in Oman. Our study includes selected students from HEIs of Oman the study can further be extended to all the HEIs across Oman.