Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurial Development of TVET Graduates: The Case of Cooperative Entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa

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2008-02

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Addis Ababa University

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The main purpose of the study was to examine the challenges and opportunities of cooperative entrepreneurs of TVET graduates. To this end, an attempt was made to look into the major factors affecting entrepreneurial development in the TVET institutes and in cooperative business enterprises such as partnership between TVET institutions and enterprises, labor market information system, apprenticeship training, financial facilities, policy, business development services and management of the enterprises. A descriptive survey method was used to identifY the major problems encountered in the success of cooperative owned enterprises in 20 cooperative societies found in 5 different sub-cities of Addis Ababa. The subjects of the study were J 00 cooperative entrepreneurs of TVET graduates, 3 TVET vice principals, 3 vocational counselors, a deputy head of trade and industrial development bureau and 3 heads of trade and industrial development office of the sub cities. Accordingly, the respondents sampling was carried out through stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The data for the study was obtained through questionnaires, interviews, observations and documents, and analyzed using SPSS software. percentages and ji-equency count methods. The results of the study revealed that TVET institutions were unable to establish a network of cooperative relationship with enterprises, apprenticeship offering organizations were lillie prepared for cooperation in the apprenticeship training for efforts made to elicit their active partiCipation, and TVET institutions do not have institutional set up required by labor market information systems. Moreover, the outcome of the study showed that lack of (financial facili ties, technical, operational and management), government intelference and absence of cooperative promotion policy were limitations recognized to address the development of cooperative enterprises. Therefore, it is recommended that creating awareness through information campaign for further deepening both the concept of partnership and the culture of apprenticeship training, TVET institutions need to establish labor market information system. Similarly, great emphasis should be placed on Ihe pOlential contribution of cooperative entrepreneurs in creating wide employment opportunities and providing a bridge to the formal sector for people currently working in Ihe informal sector, rehabilitating sick units and identifY higher potential business opportunity.

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