Application of the NFTE Model in Evaluating Entrepreneurial Competencies of Technical Education Lecturers in a Nigerian University
Keywords:
Entrepreneurial Competencies, Technical Education, NFTE Model, Cognitive Entrepreneurship, Social EntrepreneurshipAbstract
This study examined the level of Entrepreneurship competencies of Technical Education lecturers at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State. The study employed the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) model. The ten (10) dimensions of entrepreneurship competencies were simplified into three core competencies: personal. cognitive, and social entrepreneurship competencies. The study was guided by three research objectives, three research questions, and three hypotheses. The study population was made up of all 54 Academic Staff in the Department of Technical Education, IAUE, Rivers State. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire which used a four-point Likert scale of frequency. The instrument was validated for face and content validity by experts from Rivers State University. A Cronbach's Alpha of 0.85 demonstrated that the instrument was reliable. The study established that Technical Education lecturers possessed a low level of personal entrepreneurial competencies, indicating limited demonstration of entrepreneurial attributes such as risk-taking propensity. In contrast, the lecturers demonstrated moderate levels of both cognitive and social entrepreneurial competencies, suggesting an appreciable capacity for entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. The study concludes that Technical Education lecturers possess a moderate entrepreneurial competency profile within the NFTE framework, characterised by relatively stronger cognitive and social competencies but weaker personal entrepreneurial attributes. Based on the findings, the study recommended that Universities should facilitate participation in entrepreneurship conferences, innovation boot camps, design-thinking workshops, and collaborative research projects with industry partners.
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