The Role of Student Training Entrepreneurial Promotion in Advancing Suistainable Development Goals through Sustainability Oriented Entrepreneurship Orientation in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education is recognized worldwide for its impact on the starting and running of businesses within higher education institutions. Although previous studies have examined entrepreneurship education in these institutions, there is a lack of understanding of how certain programs, such as student entrepreneurial training promotion (STEP), can advance the Sustainable Development Goals and promote entrepreneurship orientation within higher education institutions. This study addresses this gap by understanding the role of student entrepreneurial training promotion in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship orientation in higher education institutions. This study used a qualitative approach in exploring the lived experiences and views of the student participants and facilitators who were involved in the STEP training at the University of Venda. Researchers collected data through face-to-face interviews with 14 student participants and 6 facilitators who took part in student entrepreneurial training promotion at the University of Venda, chosen by convenience sampling. Thematic analysis was carried out using Atlas.ti (Software Version 8), to create themes that align with the role of student entrepreneurial training promotion in advancing the sustainable development goals, and sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship orientation in higher education institutions. The findings provide insights, study model and recommendations for higher education institutions and policymakers on how to promote sustainability principles in entrepreneurship education. The study suggests that future research should include comparative studies across universities in South Africa and other regions to improve understanding of different contexts. It also recommends using larger quantitative studies to support the qualitative results and provide a fuller picture. This study shows how student entrepreneurial training promotion advances the sustainable development goals and sustainability entrepreneurship orientation in higher education institutions.