Speaker
Description
OKPA, B. E.
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
ebassey@noun.edu.ng
Track: Research, Innovation and Knowledge Ecosystems
This study examined curriculum innovation and workforce readiness among students in higher education institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. Two objectives guided the study: to examine the influence of technology-based curriculum innovation on workforce readiness among students in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria, and to assess the influence of entrepreneurship-based curriculum innovation on workforce readiness among students in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprised students, academic staff, entrepreneurship education lecturers, curriculum planners, information and communication technology instructors, and administrators in selected tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The sample size for the study was determined using the Taro Yamane sample size determination method, while an appropriate sampling technique was used to select respondents from the selected institutions. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Curriculum Innovation and Workforce Readiness Questionnaire (CIWRQ).” Experts in curriculum studies, educational management, entrepreneurship education, and measurement and evaluation validated the instrument. Reliability was established using the Cronbach Alpha method. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that technology-based curriculum innovation and entrepreneurship-based curriculum innovation positively influenced workforce readiness among students in tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The study concluded that curriculum innovation enhances students’ digital competence, entrepreneurial awareness, employability skills, creativity, problem-solving ability, and readiness for the modern labour market. The study recommended that higher education institutions should strengthen the integration of digital technologies into teaching and learning, promote entrepreneurship-based curriculum practices, and provide practical learning experiences that prepare students for employment, self-employment, and workplace demands.