STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ACQUISITION OF BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE E-WORLDS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to examine the strategies for improving employability skills acquisition of business education students in the E-world in the tertiary institutions in Anambra. Descriptive survey research design was adopted using a population of 98 business educators in tertiary institutions in Anambra State. A structured questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for data collection. Cronbach Alpha method was used to establish the reliability of the instrument. The reliability yielded coefficient values of .91, .85, .94, .83 and .82 for the five clusters and an overall reliability value of 0.87. T-test statistical tool was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data collected. The results showed that business educators strongly agreed on work-based learning as a strategy for improving employability skills acquisition of business education students in tertiary institutions in Anambra State and also agreed on e-portfolio, mentoring, digital literacy and networking as strategies for improving employability skills. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of business educators on the work-based learning, mentoring and networking strategies for improving employability skills of business education students in tertiary institutions in Anambra State based on years of teaching experience. Also there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of male and female business educators on the e-portfolio and digital literacy strategies for improving employability skills of business education students in tertiary institutions.  Based on the findings, it was recommended among others, that the use of practical activities should be highly utilized by business educators in teaching so as to equip the students with employability skills for self-employment.