THE IMPORTANCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A META ANALYSIS

HASLINDA BINTI JAMALUDDIN

INTRODUCTION
Entrepreneurship serves as a catalyst for economic growth and can provide employment
opportunities to the country. The Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced the
Entrepreneurship Development Policy Institutions of Higher Learning. This policy was
implemented as a measure to promote and strengthen the development of quality human
capital having thoughts, attributes and values of entrepreneurship (Armanurah Mohamad et
al. 2014).

Educational institutions have a role as a place to nurture individuals who can

contribute and keeping a positive outlook in life besides being able to succeed in higher
education and become excellent human (Norsila, 2008). Among the issues and agenda that
are given priority in efforts to create a brilliant individual is being able to apply the values
and the culture of entrepreneurship (Sarimah Che Hassan et al.2010). Entrepreneurial skills
are among one of the important skills that is needed by students both by from the low level of
education or higher education (Norasmah et al.2003).

Now, choosing a career is becoming increasingly complex due to change in an

environment of uncertainty and the unexpected (Norasmah Othman & Poo Bee Tin, 2012).
There has been a rise in unemployment among graduates (Mohd Hafeez Al-Amin bin Abdul
Wahab, 2013). Having purely academic skills does not guarantee graduates securing jobs as
there is fierce competition in the job market of today's world (Mohd, 2008). Based on the
Soft Skills Development Modul (2006), one of the weaknesses of graduates include poor
presentation of self and not acquiring skills and generic skills which are by employers, and
the competitive job market.

According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in

2009 and industry feedback, six factors are identified as to why graduates are unable to join
the job market. For those who desire to earn a steady income with a certain organization may
be jobless for some time. The notion of a strong desire to earn a steady income comes from
the environment one has been brought up. Children were told to attain education to a higher
level/tertiary level with good grades, in hope of securing a better job and better salary (Mohd
Hafeez Al-Amin bin Abdul Wahab, 2013). This is due to the low level of awareness among
graduates and parents on the aspects and entrepreneurial education which is an alternative
solution to the problem of unemployment among graduates (Mohd. Noor and A.Rahim,
2011).

The unemployment problem can be solved by making entrepreneurship as a career in

which there is potential to explore (Farhana binti Mohd Rosli, 2013). The approach used to
achieve the goal of creating entrepreneurial culture of Malaysian society is through
entrepreneurship education in higher education that aims to provide awareness, knowledge
and entrepreneurial skills (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, 2005;
Malaysia, 2006). Thus there is a need to examine the importance of entrepreneurship
education in helping to reduce the unemployment rate among graduates.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This meta analysis aims to study the pattern of study on the importance of entrepreneurship
education applied in universities. Therefore, this study focused on two questions:

1. What is the methodology used in the study?

2. What are the similarities and differences as well as the essence of all study
findings?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Articles were chosen systematically through databases (a) GoogleScholar; (B) ScienceDirect;
and (c) MyJurnal. The keywords used in the search are in entrepreneurship and Education.
For the purpose of obtaining the latest study, the search is restricted between 2006 and 2015.
This situation was to ensure focus and findings are still relevant to be used as a reference
(Cronin, Ryan & Coughlan, 2008). A total of 10 studies were selected for analysis based on
additional criteria which discusses the importance of entrepreneurship education in reducing
the unemployment rate among graduates from public and private institutions. Next, the
 objectives, design, data analysis, findings and focus of each study will be analyzed to meet
the requirements of the study. Table 1 describes the formulation with respect to the studies
that have been selected.

Table 1: Meta-analysis of studies on the importance of entrepreneurship education in

reducing the unemployment rate for graduates

The The essence of Samples or Research Data Analysis Findings

researcher the study Respondents Design Techniques
Sarebah Getting 151 students Survey Quantitative The application
Warman et. information on final semester T-Test of
Al the tendency of Diploma in entrepreneurial
students in Information
(2010) skills and trends
entrepreneurship Technology
and application of in
entrepreneurial entrepreneurship
skills in teaching for students to
and learning. acquire the
entire medium
mean score
.
Mohd Hafeez Identifying the 234 final year Survey Quantitative The level of
Al-Amin bin level of Mechanical implementation,
Abdul Wahab implementation, Engineering awareness, and
awareness and students of
(2013) acquiring skills
entrepreneurial UTHM
skills through the entrepreneurship
teaching and among students
learning among was moderate.
students of
Mechanical
Engineering at the
University.
Mohd Identifying the 371 Diploma Survey Quantitative Factors affecting
Shahrir bin factors that in Engineering entrepreneurship
Abdullah influence stuents, among
Diploma
(2015) Politeknik polytechnic
Engineering
students in Ungku Omar students are at a
Politeknik Ungku (PUO) moderate level.
Omar (PUO) in
entrepreneurship.
 The The essence of Samples or Research Data Findings
researcher the study Respondents Design Analysis
Techniques
Hanim bte Comparing 49 students of Descriptive Quantitative The level of
Sulaiman et. characteristics of Technical and study competence of the
al. competence Vocational characteristics of
among students Education entrepreneurship
with exposure to students and among students
entrepreneurship 45 Human who have been
vs students who Resource exposed to formal
were not exposed Development entrepreneurship
to students is higher than
entrepreneurship students who
at Universiti were not given a
Teknologi formal exposure
Malaysia in the field of
entrepreneurship

Norfadhilah Career 420 students Survey Quantitative The findings

Nasharudin Aspirations of from UUM, show that overall
& Halimah Students IIUM and university
Entrepreneurship students are still
Harun UTM
in Higher not interested in
(2010) Learning becoming
Institutions entrepreneurs
even though more
than 80 percent
show a positive
attitude towards a
career in
entrepreneurship

Nooraini Perception of the 127 Year 4 Survey Quantitative The

Othman & Factors Affecting Bachelor of environmental
Siti Soleha 4 SPH students in Technology factors most
binti Misman Entrepreneurship. with affect students'
(2010) Education interest in
(Living Skills) entrepreneurship,
students followed by the
curriculum and
encouragement
from family.
 The The essence of Samples or Research Data Findings
researcher the study Respondents Design Analysis
Techniques
Armanurah Channeling 171 former Descriptive Quantitative Half of the
Mohamad et. Students of participants of study participants have
al. Higher Learning Program become
towards a career Siswaniaga
(2014) entrepreneurs and
in (PS)
Entrepreneurship almost 20 percent
of former
participants have
started a business
upon graduation.
Norasmah Impact of 469 final year Descriptive Quantitative A perception of
Othman et. Globalization and students of Study Qualitative students towards
al. Entrepreneurship Malaysian Interviews the impact of
(2012) towards Career research globalization on
Selection Among universities entrepreneurship
Students in and an
Universities entrepreneurial
career choice
among students is
moderately high.
Salmianti Tendency Survey 80 students Descriptive Quantitative Motivating
binti Mutalib Among Students from Bandar study factors are the
(2013) in Penawar Survey main factors that
Entrepreneurship Community influence students
in Higher College in the field of
Learning entrepreneurship
Institutions
Siti Syuhada Entrepreneurship 42 students Descriptive Quantitative Commitment to
Abd Rahman Competencies from Kolej study the agreement is
et. al Among Students Universiti the dominant
(2015) Who Take Islam entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurship Antarabangsa competency in the
Courses at the Selangor student
University
FINDINGS

(i) Methodology
Overall, from the meta-analysis in Table 1, the three designs are divided into
three, namely descriptive study design, study design review, and interview study
design. Most studies use descriptive study design where questionnaires are used as
the main instrument for data collection because it is able to provide accurate
information (Wiersma & Jurs, 2005). Moreover, collecting data through
questionnaire is an efficient method. The advantage of using this method is the
difficulty in contacting the respondent low cost, able to cover a large area and
sufficient time for the respondent to think before answering questions (Copper &
Schindler, 2003).
In addition, the interview method was used only for the purpose of getting
further feedback or a more detailed explanation of the phenomenon identified in a
number of findings obtained through a quantitative approach. Although the study
design suggested by Creswell and Clark (2007), which is sequential explanatory
mixed sequential methods, the use of interviews in the study serves a different
purpose. Hence, the emphasis on the interview method is not as powerful as the
interview method used in the actual qualitative study.
In addition, the study design that uses survey to obtain feedback from
respondents to identify factors trends is done among entrepreneurship students.
The survey method is used to retrieve data or information within a certain period,
usually a questionnaire. Researchers review the situation in a particular time and
reflect the current situation.
Overall, the study found mostly just focused on the factors, trends,
involvement, character, perception and level of entrepreneurial behavior rather
than assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education achievement, attitude and
perception. Therefore, the study on the impact of entrepreneurship education for
graduates should be increased to give a true picture.
According to Figure 1, it was found to be 50% of the entire study (Abstract
Warman et. Al, 2010; Mohd Hafeez Al-Amin bin Abdul Wahab, 2013; Mohd
Shahrir bin Abdullah, 2015; Norfadhilah Nasharudin & Halimah Aaron, 2010;
Nooraini Othman & Butterfly siti binti Misman 2010) used a survey method and
40% of the study (Hanim binti Sulaiman et. al .; Armanurah Mohamad et. al.
 2014; Salmianti Muttalib, 2013; Siti Syuhada Abd Rahman et. al 2015) used
descriptive methods which focused on quantitative research. The rest (10%) used
the results of the combined qualitative and quantitative data study analysis
(Norasmah Othman et. Al. 2012).

survey descriptive descriptive and interview

10%

50%

40%

Figure 1: Meta-analysis method of analyzing data

(ii) The similarities and differences of the essence and the findings for selected studies
With reference to meta-analysis in table 1, each study is divided into two constructs
based on the essence or issue that would like to be addressed. A total of eight studies are
classified into: the importance of entrepreneurship and two are entrepreneurial skills.

The Importance of Entrepreneurship.

Studies which examined the tendency of students in entrepreneurship (Hanim bte

Sulaiman et.al; Salmiantibinti Mutalib 2013; Norasmah Othman & Poo Bee Tin 2012;
Siti Syuhada Abd Rahman et.al 2015; Armanurah et.al 2014; Farhana binti Rosli 2013;
Sarebah et.al 2010; Mohd Hafeez Al-Amin bin Abdul Wahab 2013; Nasharudin &
Halimah Harun Norfadhilah 2010; Siti Soleha Othman Nooraini & binti Misman) is
intended to analyze the tendency, factor and identify the number of graduates especially
in the field of entrepreneurship as in Figure 2.
 1

2 Tendency
Factors
Identify

Figure 2: Meta-analysis aspects studied in educational entrepreneurship

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this paper has shown a pattern of recent research relating to the
importance of entrepreneurship education among University students. The design of the
survey, descriptive studies and interviews were used in the studies. In addition, the analysis
of quantitative data based on the choice of the majority of researchers, followed by
qualitative and quantitative and qualitative combinations were used. Subsequently, it was
discovered the essence of studies is divided into two, namely, the importance of education for
entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills for students of the University.
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