Factors Affecting College Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention in Addis Ababa: A case study of selected TVET Colleges

Abstract

Entrepreneurship and TVET’s Program are postulated by ESDP to align together so that many young people become entrepreneurs to gear the development of the country. This paper examined the perception of TVET students towards entrepreneurship schemes facilitated by the government in Addis Ababa. The study used descriptive and casual research methodology using both quantitative and qualitative approaches conducted in one public and one private TVET college. TEVT students’ perceptions were measured using the Theory of planned behavior in terms of personal attitude, social control and perceived behavior control. The key findings indicated that only 20.88% of respondents have detail knowledge on entrepreneurial schemes while 47% of respondents are not interested in the existing entrepreneurial schemes. Despite the saving and credit schemes facilitated by the government, personal attitude, corruption, preferred to be hired, perceived image of entrepreneurship, social control , interested in existing entrepreneurship schemes, attractiveness of self-employment, knowledge about the entrepreneurship schemes, easiness to peruse career of self-employment, having role models, and preference in further studies explain 62.6 % variation in Entrepreneurial Intentions. Finally possible recommendations were given so that the Addis Ababa TVET Agency, the Addis Ababa Micro and Small Scale Enterprises Development Bureau as well as TVET colleges which includes Intensified clarification on entrepreneurship schemes to both private and public TVET college students; strategy and scheme alignment among the institutions; as well as designing of strategies for additional and inclusive schemes with user friendly flexible implementation approaches.