The Role of Tertiary Education Institutions in Teaching Entrepreneurship in Post- Conflict Environments

This paper explores the role of tertiary institutions in teaching entrepreneurship in Post- Conflict Liberia, one of several Post-Conflict Environments (PCEs) in Africa and abroad. The country wracked with years of civil war, and now seemingly on a path of democracy and economic growth rightfully is turning towards entrepreneurship education as a vehicle to job creation, especially among graduates and the unemployed youth. Four institutions of tertiary education in Liberia were earmarked by their educational authorities to play a leading role in delivering effective entrepreneurship education in future. A survey (n=28) was conducted among academics of the institutions in order to ascertain a better understanding of their perceptions on entrepreneurship education, the Liberian Post-Conflict labor market and related issues such differences between sub-Saharan labor markets and the loss of skilled individuals and professionals as a result of emigration (brain drain). Also the extent to which the academics were willing and able to participate in a program of entrepreneurship education. The results in general show enthusiasm for entrepreneurship education. Ideally it would seem that a process of infusing entrepreneurship into all curricula would be ideal. Special care should also be given to accommodating specific demands of the Liberian labor market, especially given their past history of conflict.