Entrepreneurial education and its role in fostering sustainable communities

Sci Rep. 2024 Mar 30;14(1):7588. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57470-8.

Abstract

Establishing sustainable communities requires bridging the gap between academic knowledge and societal requirements; this is where entrepreneurial education comes in. The first phase involved a comprehensive review of the literature and extensive consultation with experts to identify and shortlist the components of entrepreneurship education that support sustainable communities. The second phase involved Total Interpretative Structural Modelling to explore or ascertain how the elements interacted between sustainable communities and entrepreneurial education. The factors are ranked and categorized using the Matrice d'impacts croises multiplication appliquee an un classement (MICMAC) approach. The MICMAC analysis classifies partnerships and incubators as critical drivers, identifying Student Entrepreneurship Clubs and Sustainability Research Centers as dependent elements. The study emphasizes alumni networks and curriculum designs as key motivators. The results highlight the critical role that well-designed entrepreneurial education plays in developing socially conscious entrepreneurs, strengthening communities, and generating long-term job prospects. The study provides a valuable road map for stakeholders dedicated to long-term community development agendas by informing the creation of strategic initiatives, curriculum updates, and policies incorporating entrepreneurial education.

Keywords: Diverse community development; Entrepreneurship education; Sustainable communities; Sustainable development goals; Total interpretive structural modeling.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Consciousness
  • Curriculum*
  • Educational Status
  • Humans
  • Incubators
  • Students*