An entrepreneurship education, training and support framework for South African architects

Abstract

This article will report the findings of research undertaken to put forward an amalgamated education and training framework that has the potential to enhance the entrepreneurial functioning of South African Architects’ firms whilst adding to the present-day dialogue on entrepreneurship education and training. Some South African architects’ firms are battling to stay afloat (Corbett 2015, 44). While there could be many reasons for this situation, the absence of fitting entrepreneurship education, training and support for architects could be a contributing aspect. Significant agreement occurs between entrepreneurial education and training theorists that a phased methodology, that contains enacted learning is most suited for entrepreneurship education and training. Therefore, the article puts forward a framework as a structure wherein the education and training can be offered. The study used a combined methods approach since a single source was considered inadequate and because the use of manifold phases or projects, could best realise the overall study objective (Creswell and Plano-Clark 2011, 8). This article aims to bring the findings and recommendations to the attention of those who can put them into effect and to contribute to the conversation on entrepreneurship education and training.