DIGITAL SKILLS OF BUSINESS EDUCATION GRADUATES IN ABIA STATE: IMPLICATION FOR CURRICULUM RE-ORGANIZATION AND DIVERSIFICATION

Abstract

The need to reduce incidence of unemployment among business education graduates necessitated this study. The study ascertained digital skills of business education graduates: Implications for curriculum re-organization and diversification. The study adopted survey research design while all the employers of labour in Abia State formed the population of the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 61 employers in Abia State. A-23 item questionnaire face validated by three experts in the field of education was used for data collected. The reliability of the instrument was established using pilot-test and data collected analyzed using Cronbach alpha formula which yielded coefficients of 89, .81 and .78 obtained for clusters B1 to B3. Mean, standard deviation and t-test were used for data analysis. Findings showed that employers of labour indicated that business education graduates in Abia State do not possess majority of digital accounting, digital marketing and digital information and data skills. Findings also showed that educational qualification was not a significant factor on the mean ratings of employers of labour regarding digital accounting skills, digital marketing and digital information and data skills possessed by business education graduates. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers concluded that business education graduates in Abia State lack the three digital skills covered in this study. It was recommended among others that, curriculum planers should re-organize and diversify accounting education curriculum to include digital courses that will ensure that students acquire digital skills for global competition.

Key Words: Digital Skills, Business Education Graduate, Re-organization, Diversification