Technopreneurial Readiness Skills of Blocklaying and Concreting Students in Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Technopreneurial readiness, Skills, Vocational Education, Blocklaying, ConcretingAbstract
This study investigated the technopreneurial readiness skills of blocklaying and concreting students in technical colleges, examining ten core competency areas, such as technical skills, ICT proficiency, digital collaboration, financial literacy, business planning, innovation skills, problem-solving, communication, entrepreneurial mindset, and self-management. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 80 students using a structured questionnaire. The study addressed two hypotheses: whether gender differences exist in technopreneurial readiness skills and whether the ten competencies significantly predict readiness. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that students demonstrated moderate to high readiness levels across the ten competencies. No significant gender differences were found, suggesting equitable development of technopreneurial capabilities among male and female students. Regression results showed that the competency variables jointly made a significant contribution to predicting technopreneurial readiness, with ICT proficiency, financial literacy, innovation skills, and entrepreneurial mindset emerging as strong predictors. The study concludes that technopreneurial readiness is multidimensional and influenced by both technical and psychological competencies. The study recommended curriculum improvements that emphasise digital skills, financial education, innovation-driven learning, and entrepreneurship-oriented training to enhance students’ transition into sustainable self-employment within the construction sector.
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