Access and Inclusion through Flexible Learning: Re-Orienting Entrepreneurship Education

  • Agnes J Rono Rift Valley Technical Training Institute, Eldoret
  • Edwin Tarno Rift Valley Technical Training Institute, Eldoret
  • Abdi K Tiony Rift Valley Technical Training Institute, Eldoret
Keywords: Inclusion, access, flexible learning, entrepreneurship education

Abstract

One approach to enhancing entrepreneurial activity and enterprise growth in developing countries is to create an ‘enterprise culture’. To achieve a widespread enterprise culture in the long run, education and training programs in Kenya and in other developing countries need to integrate business, technology, self-employment, and entrepreneurship into the curriculum on the youth of the country. Also, given the widely accepted notion that entrepreneurial ventures are the key to innovation, productivity, and effective competition; the question of whether entrepreneurship can be taught is obsolete. The teaming mass of unemployed youths in the country and the global economic crisis has increased the urgency for countries to identify new sources of growth and develop a sustainable path to economic success. This urgent need for re-orientation calls for a revolution in the system of education that we run as a nation. This study used a qualitative approach using secondary data to examine how flexible learning can be applied in entrepreneurship education. This paper argues that flexible and open learning is the perspective the entrepreneurship educators should adopt to not only leverage on constant, flexible and student-fit digital content and learning, but also life-long availability of content for nascent and practicing entrepreneurs to learn and relearn relevant skills for creation, management, growth and innovation of competitive business ventures in a digital economy. Along with this, it recommends strong governmental commitment to information and communication technology (ICT) as one of several critical elements needed to help accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation. This paper also addresses both benefits and challenges to anticipate when using flexible learning in entrepreneurship education and training.

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Published
2017-10-01
How to Cite
Rono, A., Tarno, E., & Tiony, A. (2017). Access and Inclusion through Flexible Learning: Re-Orienting Entrepreneurship Education. Africa Journal of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 2(1), 41-50. Retrieved from http://afritvetjournal.org/index.php/Afritvet/article/view/34
Section
ACCESS AND INCLUSION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING