Sustainability at Universities as a Determinant of Entrepreneurship for Sustainability

Mina Fanea-Ivanovici,Hasnan Baber

doi:10.3390/su14010454

Mina Fanea-Ivanovici, Hasnan Baber

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010454

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of universities in promoting sustainability and sustainable development goals among Indian students as future entrepreneurs, supporting the mission of sustainability. Using PLS-SEM (n = 422), we checked the influence of three constructs related to the university’s role, i.e., campus sustainability, environmental sustainability, and education on sustainability at the university, on attitudes towards sustainability among students, on one hand, and on the intention to start entrepreneurship for sustainability, on the other hand. We also looked into the impact of attitude towards sustainability-related entrepreneurship on the intention to start entrepreneurship for sustainability, as well as into the mediating role of attitude on the relationship between the three mentioned constructs and sustainability entrepreneurial intentions. Results suggest that campus sustainability and education on sustainability positively influence the attitude towards sustainability of the students. Additionally, campus sustainability and environmental sustainability influence students to start entrepreneurship for sustainability. Further, a positive attitude towards sustainability-related entrepreneurship impacts the sustainability entrepreneurial intentions. Attitude towards sustainability mediates the relationship of campus sustainability and environmental sustainability with the sustainability entrepreneurial intentions. The study will be helpful for the universities, students, researchers, and curriculum developers to understand the role of educational institutes and its policies towards sustainability in shaping the intentions towards sustainable entrepreneurship.

Highlights

IntroductionUniversities have always represented the place where knowledge is disseminated and skills are acquired; they unquestionably provide education in various disciplines and areas
Gaining popularity, and As students have to change behavior when they are within this model was tested for the their first time, it was important to confirm the fitnessthe of the structural model through variousThere indices,is e.g., adjusted goodness-of-fit indexwill (AGFI), campus to comply with go-green culture
Environmental sustainability in the university campus will be a prototype for the outside world, and will help in building a positive attitude towards much-debated sustainability in the environment, e.g., global warming

Summary

Introduction

Universities have always represented the place where knowledge is disseminated and skills are acquired; they unquestionably provide education in various disciplines and areas. In so doing, they contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development. The role of universities is becoming more extensive and complex, exceeding their primary vocation of providing education. First of all, their focus has recently shifted from being mostly local and national, to global concerns [2]. Some universities have already taken steps in this direction and adopted sustainability reporting standards provided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in order to inform stakeholders about their sustainable development efforts [3]

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