Curriculum alignment: The perspectives of university students on the impact of industry 4.0 on entrepreneurship education within higher education

Abstract

Perceptions of curriculum misalignment on entrepreneurship education pose a threat, particularly with the advancement of Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 has disrupted the traditional higher education institutions and their operating models, while entrepreneurship is believed to be the key to unlocking opportunities brought about by this revolution. As knowledge institutions that are sensitive and responsive to the interests and needs of society, higher education institutions are expected to continually restructure to accommodate the needs of a progressively technological economy. The research aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Industry 4.0 on entrepreneurship education in higher education institutions, and how undergraduate students perceive actions taken by the institution to produce graduates who are eligible participants in the new world of work characterised by constant innovation and complexity. The study develop the conceptual framework from the literature, comprising curriculum alignment, entrepreneurship education, higher education institutions, and student perspectives in order to understand the impact of Industry 4.0 on higher education, and how these aspects can be improved to better equip learners. The study was quantitative in nature. Two hundred and forty-eight questionnaires were administered to undergraduate Commerce students in their final year, and the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. In the findings, students affirmed that they had acquired some skills from the courses they had undertaken. However, the students also indicated that these skills were not enough to propel them to thrive in Industry 4.0, thereby inferring curriculum misalignment. It is recommended that a review of the current education system integrates Industry 4.0, which will assist in reskilling students and incorporating versatile courses that will enable students to take advantage of the benefits of Industry 4.0.