Employability Skills Needed By Office Technology and Management Graduates for Entrepreneurship and Gainful Employment in Nigeria (Published)
This study investigated employability skills needed by Office Technology and Management graduates for entrepreneurship and gainful employment as perceived by stakeholders in South-Western, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used for this study. Two research questions guided the study. The population comprised 120 OTM lecturers, 69 directors and 10,339 registered entrepreneurs, totaling 10,528 respondents. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 78 OTM lecturers, 34 directors and 115 registered entrepreneurs, totaling 227 respondents. The instrument for data collection was a 20-item structured questionnaire based on four-point modified Likert rating scale format. The instrument was validated by three experts. The questionnaire was distributed to the respondents with the aid of research assistants. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data collected. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that most of the communication and ICT skills identified in the study were indispensable to entrepreneurship success and gainful employment in contemporary world of business and work. The study recommended that curriculum developers should incorporate more elements of communication and ICT skills into OTM curriculum, in order to equip graduates with the skills needed to secure gainful employment and succeed in contemporary world of business and there should be periodic curriculum updates to accommodate new skills needed by OTM graduates to excel in a dynamic technological world.
Keywords: Employability Skills, OTM Graduates., entrepreneurship and gainful employment
A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF ADEQUACY OF CONTENTS OF EDE CURRICULUM OF POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION TOWARDS MEETING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS OF OTM GRADUATES (Published)
This study appraised the adequacy of the contents of EDE curriculum of polytechnic education towards meeting entrepreneurship skills of OTM graduates. The study utilized survey research. Research question was raised for the study. An instrument which consisted of 28 items was administered on 30 respondents who taught EDE courses in the Delta State Polytechnics. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using the mean (x ̅ ) statistics. The results derived from the study revealed that the contents of EDE courses are adequate in scope and coverage towards meeting entrepreneurial skills of the OTM graduates for self-employment and employers of labour. It was recommended that EDE curriculum should be revised and reviewed every five years by practising practitioners in collaboration with industries so as to meet the needs, interests and aspirations OTM graduates and the society
Keywords: EDE Curriculum, Entrepreneurial Skills, OTM Graduates., Polytechnic Education, Self-employment
