Enhancing Entrepreneurial Skills in Higher Learning Institutions: A Case Study of the University of Dar es Salaam's ICT Innovation Hubs

Abstract

This study provides an evaluation of the University of Dar es Salaam's innovation ecosystem, which includes the UDICTI Startup Academy, CDE Hub, Youth for Children (Y4C), and FinHub. Leveraging the design thinking approach, these hubs guide students through creating and implementing solutions to real-world problems, significantly contributing to innovative products/solutions, entrepreneurial skills development, and stirring social innovation. Through qualitative methods, this research explores the effectiveness of these hubs in enhancing key student skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. The findings show that most students experienced substantial improvement in several areas: 89% in ideation, 83% in prototyping, 77% in design, 82% in presentation, 95% in communication, and 73% in collaboration skills. These results highlight the hubs' success in providing a comprehensive skill set essential for the modern workforce. Additionally, the paper points out the hubs' role in creating over 40 innovative products, demonstrating their significant impact on entrepreneurial skills development. This achievement underscores the value of integrating hands-on, practical education within higher learning, positioning the University of Dar es Salaam's ICT innovation ecosystem as a key contributor to student entrepreneurial mindset growth. The study aimed to inform the wider educational community about the impact of embedding innovation initiatives in higher education to cultivate entrepreneurship and develop extracurricular skills.