RE-FOCUSING UNIVERSITY BUSINESS EDUCATION CURRICULUM TO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR SUCCESS IN MODERN INDUSTRIES

Fidelia Abang

Abstract


The need to ensure success of educational programmes makes curriculum reform a continuous process, in order to follow the changes in the society and the industry to meet the need of the people.  Thus, refocusing the curriculum of Business Education becomes necessary and urgent in the light of the changing needs of the society.  Therefore, there is need to reposition the present Business Education curriculum which is an integral part of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) to facilitate needed inculcation of right skills and competencies for effective performance of students in line with technological advancement obtainable in modern industry.  Modern industry is looking for knowledge-based workers instead of manual-based workers of the conventional industry. In light of the positive fronts in the industry, talent is becoming a top issue among executives.  Not filling job openings and not having the right skills set in the workforce can negatively impact manufacturers in various ways, including not being able to meet growing customers’ demand, the inability to respond to new market opportunities and failing to innovate.  This paper x-rayed the present Nigeria Universities Business Education curriculum with the needs of 21st century industry and world in mind.  It explores the view of different researchers on the concepts of business education, curriculum and industry; presented the philosophy, objectives and contents of the present curriculum; compared the programmes of some selected Nigerian universities with the NUC Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS); presented some skills needed by modern industry and how business education  curriculum at university level could be enriched in line with what now operates in the technological age while concluding with useful recommendations among which greater emphases should be placed on computer and entrepreneurial education and a well coordinated Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

Keywords


Re-positioning, Business Education, Curriculum, Skills and Competencies, Industry

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