TITLE:
Influence of Entrepreneurship Competence on Employability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions Graduates in Tanzania: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy
AUTHORS:
Mahija Waziri, Deus Ngaruko, Proches Ngatuni
KEYWORDS:
Entrepreneurship Competence, Employability, TVET Graduates, Self-Efficacy
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.12 No.6,
November
8,
2024
ABSTRACT: This paper examined the influence of entrepreneurship competence on employability among technical and vocational education and training graduates in Tanzania and the moderating role of Self-Efficacy. The main objective was to assess the relationship between entrepreneurship competences and employability of graduates using self-efficacy as a moderator. The study was guided by human capital and self-efficacy theories. An explanatory research design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered on a sample of 353 graduates from TVET institutions by a Kobo toolbox. Structural Equation Modelling was used for data analysis. The finding of the study revealed a positive and significant relationship between entrepreneurship competence and employability of graduates. Furthermore, a multi-group moderation analysis indicated that the relationship is positive and statistically significant in both low and high self-efficacy groups, but it is stronger in the high self-efficacy group. The study therefore concludes that entrepreneurship competence increases TVET institution graduates’ employability but a significantly more increase is attained among the graduates with higher self-efficacy. Education policy makers, curriculum developers and TVET institutions in Tanzania should emphasize competence-based training to inculcate mind of competence to graduates for their employability. However, the efforts will add more value if measures to increase their self-efficacy are incorporated in the curricula and their delivery. Collaborative efforts among various stakeholders (practitioners) and the regulator of TVET institutions is required to prepare and avail, coaching experts who will motivate students acquire entrepreneurship competencies, business incubators for effective practical entrepreneurship learning. Policy makers should include, in the education policy, measures to transform the entrepreneurship curricula’s delivery in the TVET institutions so that these curricula not only strengthen entrepreneurship competencies and the graduates but they also raise their levels of self-efficacy.