Abstract:

As the world undergoes rapid technological advancements, more attention is being paid to the value of project-based learning in higher education pedagogy. This article explores the potential for entrepreneurial project initiatives to help narrow the skills gap in Sub-Saharan African higher education. Focusing on two rural-based universities in South Africa and Nigeria, the study obtained student feedback through semi-structured questionnaires. Findings revealed that, even though the participants were engaged with entrepreneurial projects for a considerable period of time, a substantial percentage of them still demonstrate low levels of practical competencies. This finding indicates that entrepreneurial projects alone may not create transformative learning experiences without other key enablers, such as effective mentoring from practitioners and continued institutional support for student-led projects. These enablers are critical to developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem within the universities and ensuring that these educational interventions can be appropriately assessed.

Keywords:

Live projects, Higher education, Skills-based learning, Project-based education.