Entrepreneurial Education on Adult Learners’ Motives for Creativity in Higher Learning Institutions: A Case Study of the Institute of Adult Education

Abstract

This study intended to evaluate the motives for creativity, among the adult learners’ in relation to entrepreneurial education in higher learning institutions using the Institute of Adult Education (IAE) in Tanzania as a case study. This quantitative study had applied a questionnaire survey with both closed and open-ended questions to collect primary data from a randomly selected sample of 170 respondents drawn from a study population of 291 IAE learners. With the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, the study analysed the resultant quantitative data using t-test, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient test. The study found statistically significant differences between gender motives for creativity among adult learners resulting from the entrepreneurial education taught. Two- thirds of intrinsic components studied favoured female learners. Moreover, the study found statistically significance correlation between motives for creativity and adult learners’ perceptions in family background on entrepreneurial venture formation (M= 1.66, s = 1.728) and (M = 1.62, s = 1.505) for male and female respectively, t (168) = -0.877, p= 0.0421, α = 0.05 (p < 0.05). The study indicates a strong positive correlation between the interest of an adult learner in the entrepreneurship education taught and family background (Father and Mother) in venture formation, which was statistically significant at p < .001 (r = .685, n = 170, p = .000) and p< .001 (r = .699, n = 170, p = .000), respectively. On the other hand, the study found weak and insignificant correlations between motives for creativity (satisfying and enjoying) and family background in venture formation; instead, perception of an adult learners accounted for such a drive. The results finally indicated that the energetic group was of those aged 31-39, who were highly motivated by the entrepreneurial education taught as alternative to employment. Thus, the study recommended that entrepreneurship education must nurture and inculcate in adult learners a sense of creativity through practical and exposure to the famous and successful entrepreneurs during the course module to develop and strengthened interest, satisfaction and enjoyment.