Cultivating Entrepreneurial Aptitude, Confidence and Self-Efficacy – The Impact of Entrepreneurial Education

This study addresses very current and topical issues of interest and significant importance to academia, policy makers and educators- entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial confidence, aptitude, and self-efficacy. Kuratko (2005) asserted that since the industrial revolution, the 21st Century younger generation are becoming the most entrepreneurial generation. Consequently, EE is a growing field of interest for universities, positioned in not only business schools, but receiving increased attention across all disciplines. Universities across the globe are now offering EE programmes across faculties and institutions to equip graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills, confidence, and aptitude for the changing world of world. Curriculum content for EE is continuously being developed, refined and debated for numerous disciplines given its associated benefits and so is the driver of this study. This study adopts the view that EE programmes are a core, vital research space that warrant continued, and consistent investigation given their significant role in fostering entrepreneurial mind-sets and encouraging entrepreneurial behaviour. It is imperative that the relevancy and appropriateness of EE programmes are ensured, achieving their intended outcomes with regard to knowledge and skills-development but more importantly fostering and encouraging entrepreneurial confidence, aptitude, and self-efficacy- the catalytic agents for entrepreneurial behaviour.