EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurship education on the emotional intelligence (EI) of Business Education students in Colleges of Education in Southwest Nigeria, considering the moderating role of students' level of study. Employing a quasi-experimental research design of pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group type, the study involved 293 students selected through multi-stage sampling. The experimental group received a four-week entrepreneurship education intervention focusing on business plan development, simulations, and guest lectures, while the control group continued regular coursework. EI was measured using a validated instrument assessing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Data analysis using ANCOVA revealed a significant positive effect of entrepreneurship education on EI (F(1, 291) = 313.327, p < .000). The level of study also significantly impacted EI (F(1, 291) = 5.151, p < .000), with final-year students exhibiting the highest EI levels. However, no significant interaction effect was found between entrepreneurship education and level of study (F(2, 290) = 1.146, p > .05). The study concludes that entrepreneurship education enhances EI consistently across all levels of study, while the level of study itself influences EI development. Recommendations include integrating entrepreneurship education across all levels, prioritizing experiential learning, and offering specialized EI development programs for final-year students.