Integrating Entrepreneurship Skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work Trade Curriculum in Technical Colleges in North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

New trends in curricula emerge globally where two or more courses of study are blended to produce a single curriculum. Countries like Finland and Jordan practiced embedded curricula in order to promote learning and reduce numerous courses of study. This qualitative study explores the integration of entrepreneurship skills (ES) across the curriculum of Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in North-Western Nigeria. Based on the perceptions of two strata of stakeholders (entrepreneurship teachers and Radio, Television and Electronic Work curriculum planners), the feasibility and desirability of embedding entrepreneurship skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in selected technical colleges were analyzed after conducting a preliminary study. Document analysis and semi-structured interview were used as the methods for data collection. The findings show that cross-curricula entrepreneurship skills remain non-existent in technical colleges in Nigeria, largely because its implementation is not captured in technical disciplines. However, the study points out the importance of embedding entrepreneurship skills into Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum for wealth creation and employment generation among technical college graduates. In addition, the five stages of integrating curriculum adopted from the lifelong learning model were briefly discussed. The components of entrepreneurship skills discovered in the study included: entrepreneurial awareness, starting and operating a business, business ideas and opportunities, characteristics or traits of entrepreneurs, and self and paid employment among others. Donor support and retraining needs of trade teachers were also highlighted as complementary factors for enhancing the implementation of embedded curriculum in Nigeria. The findings of this study can be applicable to technical colleges in Nigeria especially in Radio and Television Trade.