Students’ Perceptions And Intention Towards Entrepreneurship

Graduate unemployment represents a waste of resources since unused labor could be used to increase economic growth, similarly unemployment is a denominator of various social problems such as crime, drug addiction, psychological disorders, loss of self-confidence and many others. Therefore, this study is of great significance to students, government and university curriculum planners in tackling the unemployment among graduates. The study focused on how University students perceive entrepreneurship as a career to solve the challenge of the high rate of unemployment among graduates in Namibia. In order to maintain the study focus, four research questions were developed as follows:(a) what are the views and understanding of university students towards entrepreneurship?(b) What are the university students’ employment intentions with regard to entrepreneurship? And finally (c) What factors do influence university students in decision of starting a business upon graduation? To answer these questions the study engaged both qualitative and quantitative methods, using questionnaires and interview as instruments. Questionnaires were administered randomly to124university students from business and non-business courses. Quantitative data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)16.0versions. The research revealed that the majority of students have positive perception toward entrepreneurship as a career and are very eager to venture into entrepreneurship upon graduation, however, there are various factors that they take into account as hindrances and hence causing them to abort their entrepreneurial dreams. The study found two factors that have a positive influence on students’ entrepreneurial intentions, namely being a member of an entrepreneurship club/organization and having business experience. Therefore the study recommends the university to integrate practical aspect of the curriculum across all faculties in order to offer students entrepreneurial experiences, this can be done by introducing projects such as spinoff companies; these are companies that strive to transform knowledge acquired by their students into an income-generating business. On the other hand, the ministry of trade and industry should amend its policies in favor of new business creation.