Role of Vocational Training in Promoting Innovation in Tanzania

Innovation is a process by which entrepreneurs convert opportunities into marketable ideas. It includes a complex interaction between human activities, technology and market place. This study investigated the role of vocational education and training in promoting technological innovation among small scale enterprises in Tanzania, specifically metal working enterprises in Dar as Salaam. Literature on innovation and the role of vocational training on innovation were extensively reviewed. To measure innovation, three groups of entrepreneurs were used for comparison, namely; those trained by VETA, those with apprenticeship and VETA and Non-VETA. However, those with apprenticeship and VETA were used as a control group. To achieve the desired results, questionnaire, interviews and field observation were used for data collection. Study findings revealed that the role of vocational training in promoting technological innovation among small scale enterprises in Dar as Salaam was low. The study recommends that periodic modernization of training facilities and replacing older training equipment and tools with new ones is required.