Revisiting and Harnessing the Transformative Power of Social Entrepreneurship in University Education for Sustainable Green and Blue Economy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47963/jobed.v13i.1991Keywords:
Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE), Higher Education Curriculum, Sustainable Development, Green and Blue Economy, NigeriaAbstract
This study explores the integration of Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE) within African university curricula, with reference to Nigeria, as a means of preparing socially responsible change agents for sustainable development in the green and blue economy. It aims to: identify the policies (macro) that support SEE; examine the programmes (meso) implemented within selected degree curricula; and evaluate the suitability of tools and methods (micro) adopted by universities to deliver SEE. A qualitative content analysis of policy and institutional documents (including the National Policy on Education, National Development Plan 2021–2025 and the Study Handbook for the bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship of a federal university) was conducted using a set of six descriptors developed through an international iterative collaborative framework. Findings indicate critical gaps in existing SEE structures, particularly weak policy alignment, limited contextualization to local green and blue economy opportunities, and inadequate interdisciplinary integration as a key requirement for effective implementation. The study recommends the need for mission-driven SEE policies, territorial learning ecosystems, and the adoption of culturally grounded as well as context-responsive teaching strategies. Embedding SEE more deliberately into higher education in Nigeria could strengthen their contribution to sustainable economic and social transformation.
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