ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCY, BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS, ESTABLISHING SMALL SCALE VENTURES

This study explored the entrepreneurship competency required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures, with a specific focus on Nigerian students. The study was designed to examine three core aspects: the extent to which information and technology is required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures, the extent to which marketing skills is required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures and the extent to which creativity skill is required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures. By targeting 50 undergraduate students each from the Department of Business Education and Department of Entrepreneurship in the University of Benin. The study aimed to uncover insights relevant to the competencies required and its implications for business education students in establishing small scale ventures. The research employed a descriptive survey design, collecting data through structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS, employing mean and standard deviation as key statistical tools. Respondents provided insights into how business education students should have access to modern information technology for learning and research purposes and the importance to be proficient in using marketing analytic tools to assess campaign performance. The findings revealed that there is very high extent to which information and technology is required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures particularly by understanding business software applications e.g Excel, CRM systems and also develop skills in digital communication tools e.g email, video conferencing, collaboration platforms etc. It also revealed that marketing skills have a very high extent of requirement by business education students in establishing small scale ventures driven by the need to be trained both traditional and digital marketing techniques to stay competitive in the industry. Based on the above findings, it is recommended that; integrating digital technology training into the curriculum. This should include e-commerce, digital marketing and ICT proficiency. Encouraging interdisciplinary learning, combining business education with courses in technology, psychology, and design to enhance entrepreneurial competencies. By embedding these competencies into business education programs, students will be better equipped to establish, manage, and scale small-scale ventures successfully. Ultimately, fostering information and technology skills, marketing expertise, and creativity will empower aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of the modern business world and drive economic growth through innovative ventures.