How curriculum delivery translates into entrepreneurial skills: The mediating role of knowledge of information and communication technology

PLoS One. 2022 May 11;17(5):e0265880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265880. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

This research examines how curriculum delivery predicts entrepreneurial skills, with knowledge of information and communication technology (ICT) as a mediator. Curriculum delivery with the multiple dimensions of objectives, contents, teaching strategies, and feedback and assessment was used in this study, and a quantitative research design was adopted. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 482 students at six universities in Lahore, Pakistan, and the partial-least-squares structural equation model in SmartPLS 3.2 was used for data analysis. The results show that all dimensions of curriculum delivery (i) do not influence entrepreneurial skills and (ii) positively influence the knowledge of ICT. Also, in the indirect relationships, all dimensions of curriculum delivery (i.e., objectives, contents, teaching strategies, and feedback and assessment) are associated positively with ICT knowledge. Therefore, ICT knowledge plays a mediating role between curriculum delivery and entrepreneurial skills. The results also show that curriculum delivery for educational entrepreneurs is not working effectively and efficiently in Pakistani universities, and it is concluded that curriculum delivery and ICT knowledge boost entrepreneurial skills. Finally, the conclusions, limitations, and practical implications of this study are presented in detail.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Communication
  • Curriculum*
  • Humans
  • Information Technology*
  • Technology
  • Universities

Grants and funding

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71950410624), The National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. BHA210139), and Guangdong Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Sciences (Grant No. GD21YJY14). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.