Search Results (167)

Entrepreneurship serves as a vital engine of economic development, yet the mechanisms translating entrepreneurial intention into behavior have gradually emerged. This study employs bibliometric analysis of 61 SSCI-indexed articles (2014–2024) using CiteSpace to examine co-authorship networks, co-citation patterns, and research hotspots. Our findings demonstrate that individual-level factors (personality traits, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurship education) drive both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behavior. More importantly, environmental factors (university milieu, regional social legitimacy, and national cultural dimensions) moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and behavior. The study also identifies a temporal pattern in the entrepreneurial intention–behavior correlation. These results advance theoretical understanding of the intention–behavior transition and offer practical insights for entrepreneurship education and policy design. Full article

Against the backdrop of evolving innovation and entrepreneurship education, this study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship in China. By analyzing 98 cases of student-led ventures and applying principal component analysis (PCA) via SPSS 19.0, the research identifies key determinants across individual, institutional, and societal dimensions. The empirical results reveal strong correlations between entrepreneurial risk levels and practical experience (r = 0.82), pre-market research (r = 0.84), participation in entrepreneurship courses (r = 0.72), university innovation platform utilization (r = 0.75), social financing intensity (r = 0.68), and regional economic development (r = 0.53). Individual-level factors demonstrate the most profound influence, with institutional and societal resources providing complementary support. Based on these findings, the study proposes targeted recommendations to enhance student engagement in practical training, optimize university–platform integration, and improve policy-backed financing ecosystems, thereby fostering the sustainable development of college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities. Full article

This study examines the identity of nanostores—micro, independent grocery retailers—through a systemic, stakeholder-informed lens to promote their survivability and competitiveness. Moving beyond traditional operational descriptions, it introduces a multidimensional framework that examines what nanostores do (X), how they do it (Y), and why they matter (Z), which is complemented by the use of the TASCOI tool to produce identity statements. Based on survey data collection and a thematic analysis of nanostore stakeholder responses in Mexico City, the research categorises identity statements into six 2 × 2 matrices across four dimensions: operational, functional, relational, and adaptive. This analysis yields twenty-four archetypes that capture the diversity, complexity, and adaptability of nanostores. The findings reveal that nanostores are not a homogeneous category. They simultaneously exhibit characteristics of multiple archetypes, blending retail function, social embeddedness, and entrepreneurial adaptation. This study contributes to the nanostore and micro-enterprise literature by operationalising identity description and offers practical insights for supporting diverse shop types through context-sensitive policy and business strategies. While this study ensures internal validity and reliability through systematic coding and stakeholder feedback, it acknowledges limitations in its generalisability. Future research may build on this work through comparative studies, longitudinal tracking, and direct engagement with nanostore owners and their communities to further understand the dynamics of their identity and their resilience in evolving retail landscapes. Full article

The empowerment of rural women through sustainable entrepreneurship is pivotal for fostering economic development and social transformation in developing communities. This study examines the impact of university social responsibility (USR) programs on strengthening sustainable entrepreneurship among rural women, emphasizing the mediating role of economic empowerment. Utilizing a structural equation model (SEM), we explore causal pathways between USR interventions, entrepreneurial capacities, and the sustainability of rural businesses. Key dimensions analyzed include economic resources, social networks, and psychological self-efficacy, as well as their interrelation with community development. The findings demonstrate that multidimensional USR programs integrating technical training, social support, and economic resources significantly enhance entrepreneurial resilience and value chain integration. Notably, the analysis reveals that economic empowerment mediates the relationship between USR programs and business sustainability, with improvements in community participation and ICT quality identified as critical drivers. Furthermore, the post-intervention results highlight a shift from technology access challenges to a focus on ICT content quality and psychosocial development, reflecting maturity in community adaptation and resource utilization. This research provides empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of USR programs in catalyzing sustainable transformations in rural contexts. The results offer actionable insights for designing targeted interventions that integrate technical, social, and economic dimensions, contributing to the advancement of sustainable entrepreneurship and rural development theory. Full article

This study explores the evolution of academic entrepreneurship, emphasizing the crucial role of universities in fostering innovation and economic development. Through a systematic review guided by the PRISMA methodology, the research identifies six critical dimensions in academic entrepreneurship: university entrepreneurial ecosystems, organizational structures, capacity building, impact evaluation, contextual influences, and sustainability. The review highlights the integration of sustainability principles, digital transformation, and innovative financing models as central themes driving contemporary university entrepreneurship. Additionally, it underscores the necessity for adaptive governance frameworks and interdisciplinary collaborations to address diverse socioeconomic contexts. The findings offer theoretical insights and practical recommendations for policymakers and university administrators, with the aim of enhancing the design and implementation of effective entrepreneurial ecosystems. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and strategies that enable universities to act as catalysts for innovation and sustainable economic growth. Full article

Women entrepreneurs in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging countries play an essential role in the economy of developing countries such as Indonesia. Drawing on the resource-based view and entrepreneurship effectuation theory, this study examines how women’s entrepreneurial effectuation (WEE) modeled as a higher-order construct (HOC) comprising its four dimensions (LOCs)—namely, flexibility, experimentation, affordable loss, and pre-commitment—can influence employee performance (EMPRF) mediated by structural (STREM) and psychological empowerment (PSYEM). Using a disjointed two-stage PLS-SEM approach with data from 218 female SME employees, our results confirm that flexibility is the most salient effectuation dimension. WEE strongly predicts both STREM and PSYEM but shows no direct impact on EMPRF, highlighting that effectuation must be activated via empowerment mechanisms. PSYEM emerges as the strongest mediator of WEE on EMPRF, with STREM also contributing significantly and being amplified by gender equality practices; market orientation, by contrast, fails to moderate any paths. Theoretically, these findings enrich resource-based view (RBV) theory by integrating entrepreneurial effectuation dimensions and empowerment as human resource capabilities that generate inimitable performance gains. Practically, they suggest that women-led SMEs should integrate effectuation heuristics with targeted empowerment programs to realize the full potential of their human capital. Full article

This study investigates how displaced women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia’s fragile institutional environment apply effectuation principles to sustain their businesses. Through analysis of five effectuation dimensions, we find that while affordable loss strategies and means orientation enhance business resilience, traditional effectuation approaches like partnership formation and rigid control mechanisms often prove ineffective in displacement contexts. This research makes three key contributions: first, it extends effectuation theory by identifying how institutional fragility fundamentally alters the utility of entrepreneurial strategies; second, it reveals displaced women’s innovative adaptations through informal networks and risk-minimising approaches; and third, it challenges universal applications of effectuation principles in crisis settings. This study contributes to sustainable entrepreneurship by demonstrating both the relevance and constraints of effectuation theory in crisis-affected environments. It underscores the importance of flexible, resourceful strategies for women entrepreneurs navigating systemic challenges, offering insights for policymakers and support organisations. Practical implications include designing capacity-building programmes that promote adaptive strategies, such as risk management and resource optimisation, while addressing the challenges of partnerships and rigid control mechanisms. By aligning with the goals of sustainable development, this research not only highlights the potential of effectuation principles but also unravels their limitations, providing a nuanced understanding of how entrepreneurial strategies can foster resilient livelihoods and sustainable economic practices in crisis-affected regions. Full article

Millions of young Africans earn a variety of qualifications annually, yet the majority return without prospects for employment. This challenge has become a catalyst for inequality, poverty, crime involvement, and international migration. Empirical discourse points to education—such as a pedagogy that is chiefly theory-oriented rather than aligned with a knowledge economy, mismatched skills, and irrelevant qualifications—as constraints that contribute to the unemployment of the continent’s vibrant young graduates. Amidst this surging issue, the call for transformation in higher learning has never been clearer. Focusing on rural landscapes, this case study analysed the contextual employability potential of graduates pursuing an entrepreneurial university trajectory in Africa, illustrating why the paradigm should be implemented. The findings, based on qualitative data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire through one-on-one and remote approaches from stakeholders in universities across five African countries, highlight three dimensions central to this pathway. These include (1) curriculum alignment to advance cutting-edge qualifications and skill development that resonate with industrial demand and local economic priorities; (2) stakeholder embeddings in which universities strive to partner with local organisations and established alumni to provide mentorship, job leads, and referrals; and (3) innovation hubs that offer a variety of entrepreneurial support, real-world experience, and Indigenous entrepreneurship practices, leading to unique new ventures and employment opportunities. Implementing this strategy will enable rural-based universities in Africa to innovate in promoting graduate employability, socioeconomic advancements, and sustainable development, ultimately shaping a brighter future for the continent. Further studies could test the assumptions for broader application using statistical analysis. Full article

Teacher entrepreneurship is a fundamental aspect of today’s education. Entrepreneurial Competence (EC), as established in Organic Law 3/2020, which amends Organic Law 2/2006, on Education, and reinforced by Law 14/2013, on Support for Entrepreneurs and Their Internationalization, is key to preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. This study follows a quantitative observational design, with data collected through a questionnaire administered to over 600 education professionals, structured into three blocks and fourteen dimensions. The research is divided into three parts, corresponding to the three blocks of the questionnaire. This article focuses on the first block, which aims to evaluate teachers’ assessment of EC and to analyse their perception of the most accessible and effective options for adequately developing this competence in educational centres. Results show that all participant groups generally rated EC highly, but perceptions differ based on gender, age, and training. Teachers with EC training express greater confidence, while those without training report more challenges. School leaders rate EC more favourably, likely due to their involvement in institutional policies. The main obstacles identified are insufficient teacher training and inadequate resources. The study emphasises the importance of enhancing teacher training and adopting active methodologies to integrate entrepreneurship into education. It also underscores practical implications for educational policy, emphasising curriculum reforms, resource allocation, and stronger school–business collaboration to foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Full article

Entrepreneurial competence is a key element in education for fostering innovative and sustainable learning, enabling teachers and students to address 21st-century challenges. Through a validated questionnaire, this quantitative observational study examines the perceptions of 623 education professionals regarding their abilities and attitudes to develop entrepreneurial competence across key dimensions, such as organizing, leadership, communication, evaluation, team coordination, initiative, independence, and motivation. The results show that women (compared to men), professionals with managerial roles (compared to classroom teachers), and older teachers with more experience (compared to younger teachers with less experience) perceive themselves as being more competent in the skills that make up entrepreneurial competence. However, this study also identifies a widespread lack of entrepreneurial training across all demographic and professional groups, highlighting a systemic gap in teacher training for entrepreneurial education. These findings highlight the urgent need to design and implement teacher training programs that address entrepreneurship as a key competence closely linked to sustainable education. This study also recommends promoting educational policies that foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among teachers to create more inclusive, transformative, and sustainable learning environments. Full article

Place-specific socioeconomic features are unique and, unlike first-nature geography, are shaped and reshaped by human and institutional interactions. In Ethiopia, however, policy thinking has not progressed much beyond first-nature geography, overlooking the multidimensional socio-spatial formations of rural areas. This study, based on nationally representative socioeconomic panel data from 2018/19 and 2021/22, used a place-based framework to explore the complex nature of rural development and its relationship with multidimensional, place-specific key determinants, namely rurality and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Indices for the key variables were developed by reducing their dimensions using Principal Component Analysis to measure multidimensional variables, including rural development, and undertake subsequent examinations. The study examines the effects of the key determinants on rural development using the Fixed Effects Instrumental Variables–Two-Stage Least Squares regression model, owing to endogeneity concerns with the key determinants. The study shows significant effects of both rurality and entrepreneurial ecosystems on rural development. It offers insights into the complex socio-spatial formations and explanatory power of rural contexts and contributes to the understanding of a place-based approach to rural development. The study also contributes to national and sub-national strategies to address rural challenges in Ethiopia and beyond. Full article

During the COVID-19, Muslim entrepreneurs had to adapt to remain resilient. These Muslim entrepreneurs can rely on entrepreneurial personality and skill traits to survive a crisis. This paper aims to expand the analysis of the several contributing factors to the resiliency of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) managed by Muslim entrepreneurs, as identified in various scholarly publications. Additionally, this study emphasises the significance of entrepreneurial personality and skill traits, investigates the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation on the link between entrepreneurial traits and SME resilience, and explores the moderating effects of Muslim religiosity. Furthermore, it delves into specific Islamic principles such as “ikhtiar” (effort) and “tawakkal” (reliance on God), which contribute to the resilience of Muslim entrepreneurs. This study centres on Muslim business owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in West Sumatra. The final sample obtained was 452 Muslim entrepreneurs. This research was conducted in 2021, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial traits influence the resiliency of Muslim entrepreneurs in two distinct ways: directly and indirectly via entrepreneurial orientation. This research advances the entrepreneurial literature in three ways. First, research on entrepreneurial resilience is extended, considering the different dimensions of entrepreneurial personality and traits (negotiation skills, risk-taking, optimism, locus of control, and need for achievement). Second, this study explores the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation on the relationship between entrepreneurial personality and skill traits toward entrepreneurial resilience. Finally, this study specifically discusses Muslim entrepreneurs as research respondents. Full article

Employability has been widely studied from various theoretical and methodological perspectives. However, certain dimensions of the determinants of employability remain underexplored, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving labor market shaped by digital transformation and artificial intelligence and socio-economic contextual factors. The aim of this study is to analyze the dimensions influencing the employability of young Moroccans through an exploratory qualitative approach, based on structured roundtable discussions organized at the Careers and Skills Centre of Laâyoune. The findings identify eight key pillars of employability, aligned with the current labor market demands, encompassing educational and training opportunities, hard and soft skills, geographical mobility, entrepreneurial and project management skills, adaptation to emerging professions, regional economic infrastructure, and state support. These insights provide a comprehensive framework for understanding employability dynamics, offering actionable recommendations for educators, policymakers, and employers. This research stands out by integrating a contextualized approach to employability, bridging global labor market trends with region-specific socio-economic realities. Full article

African traditional entrepreneurship schemes have gained growing scholarly attention in recent times, with the Indigenous Igbo Entrepreneurship Scheme (IIES) recognized as the most impactful. Although scholars have explored various dimensions of the IIES, they agree that the phenomenon requires more exploration in order to position it properly in the global literature of entrepreneurship and support its adoption in other regions beyond the Igbo context. Currently, very few studies have investigated the roles, impediments, and possible solutions to the challenges faced by the IIES, and none is known that covers these three areas simultaneously. By deploying a mixed research method involving in-depth interviews with IIES enrollees and trainers, and a systematic literature review, this study proposes the 3Rs framework to the IIES. Thus, it anchors on the entrepreneurial venture creation theory and the multidimensional construct to explore the IIES’s relevance, restraints, and remedies. Several findings relating to the relevance of the scheme, such as its economic, social, financial, and environmental contributions, the restraints (informality, lack of regulation, eroding trust, and dwindling enrolment), and the remedies (including the formulation of regulatory policies, formalization of the scheme, talent hunting, and rekindling the spiritual side) are highlighted. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Full article

This study integrates Sustainable Energy Development (SED) with an Energy Ecosystems (EE) framework in Greece to reveal how macrolevel policies, mesolevel infrastructures, and microlevel behaviors shape energy transitions. Drawing on historical data primarily spanning 2010–2024, supplemented by 16 semi-structured expert interviews and a macro–meso–micro analytical approach, it examines SED dimensions—affordability, supply, consumption, and security—within the supplier–producer–distributor–consumer nexus. The findings show notable progress in solar and wind adoption but also underscore persistent challenges such as high import dependency, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructural gaps. By proposing targeted policy directions and suggesting a new modus operandi of local-level institutional coordination, the research illustrates how an SED–EE synergy can foster resilience, innovation, and social equity, thereby informing sustainable energy strategies not just for Greece but also for other regions facing similar structural hurdles. The novel integrative perspective of this paper, unlike prior approaches that address either macropolicy targets or microlevel entrepreneurial activity alone, clarifies how mesolevel dynamics facilitate or hamper SED goals. This theoretical and practical synthesis is expected to inform the design of more resilient, equitable, and innovation-driven energy policies. Full article