Entrepreneurship and STEM Competencies Education Among Female Estate Management Students of Polytechnics

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for the economic prosperity of countries through wealth creation and employment generation. The high unemployment rate in Nigeria is more pronounced among female graduates. As a result, numerous research and government interventions to address this scenario were initiated, but female graduate unemployment still rises at alarming rate. This has been attributed to the lack of intention of female students toward entrepreneurial activities. Thus, this study investigated entrepreneurship education and STEM and entrepreneurial competencies of female students. Three hypotheses were used. The study utilised the quantitative method and survey design based on a cross-sectional time horizon. The collected data from a sample size of 37 female students of estate management in Plateau State Polytechnic. The study also utilised the systematic review and conceptual secondary evidence, by reviewing and analysing 30 recent articles and using SPSS to generate simple percentages, descriptive statistics and simple linear regression model. Results revealed a positive and significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention majorly among social science students. On this premise, a conceptual framework was developed with STEM competencies as moderator to fill the knowledge gap. The conceptual framework reiterates the need to assess moderating effects of STEM conpetencies based on socio-emotional skills, multi-literacy skills, and knowledge-thinking skills among female estate management students of Plateau State Polytechnic and this showed a moderate positive and significant relationship. Based on the findings, the institutions of higher learning should improve the quality of entrepreneurship education by leveraging on course content enrichment, pedagogical flexibility, and extracurricular activities to strengthen TVET EI of female students.