Social Entrepreneurship Initiatives Research Articles

Social entrepreneurship in young students promoted by Latin American universities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the strategies that allow sowing social entrepreneurship initiatives among young university students in Latin America. This study will also help to understand the different needs and expectations currently treated in higher education in developing its role as a promoter of entrepreneurship in students. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a multinomial logistic regression method analysis based on data collected through an online survey and applied to a sample of 599 advanced business administration students in five Latin American countries. Findings The results indicate that three of the independent variables under study are relevant as strategies to instill in university students the initiative for creating social entrepreneurship: establishing links with social communities, providing entrepreneurial education with a social orientation, and offering financial education. Research limitations/implications These research findings indicate the role universities should have in promoting social entrepreneurship in university students. Therefore, the proposed strategies are crucial to improving this type of entrepreneurship. Originality/value The main contribution of this study is to analyze issues as crucial as social entrepreneurship in Latin American university students and broaden knowledge of the main strategies universities in this region must adopt so that students launch into the social area.

Breaking the Mold: HRD and Social Entrepreneurship – A Recipe for Progress

Social entrepreneurship practices integrate aspects from the private, public, and non-profit sectors into a cohesive practice. This paper advocates for the integration of human resource development (HRD) research and practices into social entrepreneurship initiatives to drive progress and build effective organizations committed to positive social change and value creation. By exploring HRD insights on ethical organizational strategies, initiatives for workforce development, and their impact on employee engagement and attitudes, we contend that HRD professionals can significantly contribute to the success of social entrepreneurship.

Impact of Social Entrepreneurship on Digital Technology and Students’ Skill Set in Higher Education Institutions: A Structured Equation Model

This research paper investigates the impact of social entrepreneurial initiatives implemented by Colleges and Universities on the utilization of digital technology, examining how this utilization, in turn, affects the learning process and the development of students' skill sets. It emphasises the pivotal role of such initiatives in higher education institutions. Various societies and cells have been established within universities, providing students with opportunities for community engagement and social service. The study highlights how integrating social entrepreneurial initiatives and digital technology in higher education institutions impacts the student’s skill development. The research collects data from students affiliated with these societies through a structured questionnaire encompassing inquiries related to social entrepreneurship, digital technology usage, skill development, and their influence on students’ assimilative capacity impacting higher education institutions. Responses from 203 university students from Delhi NCR, India, participating in these cells are analysed using structural equation modelling using AMOS Graphics. The findings indicate that students actively engaged in social entrepreneurial initiatives demonstrate an increased reliance on digital technology in multifaceted ways while fulfilling their responsibilities within the respective cells. This heightened use of digital technology contributes to the enhancement of students' skill sets, fostering a greater sense of social responsibility and ultimately facilitating improved academic performance. Further, the experiential knowledge and skills acquired through these initiatives empower students to excel based on their practical experiences, thereby advancing higher education institutions as a whole.

The role of universities in Latin American social entrepreneurship ecosystems: a gender perspective

PurposeThis study examines the role of universities in the social entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEEs) in Latin America from the perspective of female academic staff, administrators and outreach workers of universities in the region.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach, the study scrutinises in-depth interviews conducted with 24 women from eight Latin American universities.FindingsThe findings underscore the pivotal role of universities in promoting social entrepreneurship through knowledge generation, entrepreneur training, network enhancement and the promotion of equity. They also highlight the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into university programmes and practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative nature and small, diverse sample of this research inherently limit its scope. However, these limitations arise from the exploratory approach adopted, which was confined to eight Latin American countries. Further comparative studies in different contexts are needed to deepen the understanding of the dynamics involved.Practical implicationsUniversities should offer more tangible support and training in social entrepreneurship with a gender focus. Governments can create incentives for universities to prioritise their contribution in this area.Social implicationsThe study emphasises the potential of women-led social entrepreneurship initiatives to generate positive impact, underscoring the need for inclusive supportive environments.Originality/valueBy providing insights on the role of Latin American universities in SEEs from a gender perspective, this study contributes to limited literature on the intersection of social entrepreneurship, gender, higher education and geographic context in the region. The research underscores the need to further explore how gender and regional dynamics influence social entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Crianças e jovens com medida de acolhimento residencial: a importân-cia da arte e do desporto como estratégia de intervenção social

This article aims to demonstrate the contribution of art and sport as a social intervention strategy with children and teenagers in residential care. Results obtained by the D'AR-TE project, an Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, developed by the Casa de Acolhimento da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santarém, show a decrease in aggressive behavior and an increase in self-esteem in sixteen children and teenagers, after a year of attending sports (judo) and arts (theatre, music and body expression) workshops twice a week. By analyzing the affective and behavioral dynamics of children and teenagers, it is possible to perceive the effectiveness of these practices in promoting individual and social resilience and as a consequence the reduction of aggressive behavior, enabling individuals to have a health-ier psychic (re)organization and a redefinition of concepts and attitudes

The Effect of Innovation and Technology in Social Entrepreneurship: A Study of Selected Social Ventures in Nigeria

Abstract: In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a burgeoning interest in social entrepreneurship as a means to address pressing societal challenges while fostering economic development. This study explores the transformative effects of innovation and technology on the landscape of social entrepreneurship in Nigeria. As the country grapples with complex social issues, the integration of innovative solutions and technological advancements has emerged as a promising avenue for social entrepreneurs to create lasting impact. This research employs a multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from the fields of business, technology, and social sciences. It examines case studies, and conducts surveys from social entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and beneficiaries to assess the influence of innovation and technology on the success and scalability of social enterprises in Nigeria. The study also considers the role of government policies, funding opportunities, and support networks in facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies within the social entrepreneurship sector. The findings reveal that the infusion of technology and innovation has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship initiatives in Nigeria. Innovations such as mobile payment platforms, blockchain, and data analytics have improved financial inclusion, healthcare delivery, and access to quality education. This research underscores the importance of fostering an ecosystem that encourages innovation and technology adoption within the realm of social entrepreneurship in Nigeria. It highlights the need for collaboration between government, private sector stakeholders, and civil society organizations to provide access to funding, mentorship, and infrastructure for technology-driven social enterprises. This study contributes valuable insights to the on-going discourse on the role of innovation and technology in advancing social entrepreneurship and development in Nigeria. Keywords: Innovation: Technology: Social Entrepreneurship: Social Enterprise: Nigeria.

The Effect of Environmental Sustainability Factors, Funding Models, and Risk Management on Social Entrepreneurship Success: A Case Study on CV. Pangalusna Sukabumi

This study investigates the complex mechanisms that impact the achievement of social entrepreneurship endeavors, concentrating on the case of CV. Pangalusna Sukabumi. The study investigates the relationships between environmental sustainability factors, funding models, risk management, and social entrepreneurship success via quantitative analysis involving 213 participants. The findings demonstrate statistically significant positive correlations, suggesting that social entrepreneurship endeavors of organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability, employing a variety of funding models, and executing efficient risk management strategies are more likely to be prosperous. This study makes a valuable contribution to the current body of literature by providing empirically validated insights. It also offers practical guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers who are interested in improving the sustainability and effectiveness of social entrepreneurship initiatives.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: The Role of Leadership Qualities in Adopting Social Entrepreneurship Initiatives during COVID-19

Social entrepreneurship (SE) can spark positive societal change by providing adequate and long-term solutions to global issues. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional businesses have been impacted on micro and macro levels. However, SE can ensure social welfare, job creation, and economic improvement. This study examines the impact of Paradoxical Leadership, Transformational Leadership, and Entrepreneurial Leadership on SE during the pandemic, specifically in the pharmaceutical and textile manufacturing sectors of Punjab, Pakistan. The study also investigates the moderating role of Public Service Motivation (PSM) between these leadership styles and SE. The findings suggest that leadership qualities positively impact SE during COVID-19, and PSM plays a moderating role in the relationship between leadership styles and SE in the manufacturing sector. The results of this study could inform the development of effective leadership strategies for social entrepreneurs during global crises.

Empreendedorismo social: Motivações e oportunidade para a criação de emprego

Purpose: The creation of a social entrepreneurship initiative presents a huge potential in terms of creating social value. In addition to contributing to solving a social problem, it also allows for the creation of jobs in society. This research aims to analyze the main motivations that accompany the decision to create a social entrepreneurship initiative, as well as the potential that social entrepreneurship has for job creation, especially self-employment. Methodology: The research has an exploratory nature, based on a qualitative methodology. Primary data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews with five social entrepreneurs in Portugal. Results: The results obtained indicate that the creation of the social initiative was essentially triggered by the recognition of a market failure and need for social intervention. The research indicates that the most relevant motivations for creating the social entrepreneurship initiative are related to pull factors, namely altruism, passion, desire for innovation and exploitation of the identified opportunities. Although it was not an explicit purpose in the creation of the initiative, there is a positive impact in terms of job creation, allowing social entrepreneurs to develop their professional activity in a full-time manner, while contributing to the resolution of the social issue previously identified. Job creation in society, although not being a main purpose, is seen as positive by social entrepreneurs. Originality: The article has contributed to broadening the knowledge on the motivations for the creation of a social entrepreneurship initiative, an area that, although relevant, still needs further development. The article also explores the potential of social entrepreneurship for job creation. Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship, Motivations, social entrepreneur, Employment, Self-employment.

Fostering social entrepreneurship through public administration support

This research empirically examines the role of the Romanian public administration in supporting social entrepreneurship initiatives to address local community development challenges. Data were collected from a survey of 145 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working closely with Romanian public administration institutions involved in social entrepreneurship projects. Increased awareness of social problems and publicly funded incentives enable social entrepreneurs to develop social projects. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to test several hypotheses based on the theoretical background. According to the analyses, high involvement of local public administrations in social entrepreneurship initiatives is strongly correlated with the importance of social projects for local communities and with citizens’ positive perception of the managers of public institutions. High involvement of local public administrations is moderately correlated with citizens’ interest in supporting social causes and projects that add value to the community. It is also weakly correlated with the interest of private companies in co-financing such projects through public–private partnerships (PPPs) and the capacity of public institutions to attract non-reimbursable European funds for this purpose. This research contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by illustrating the role of public institutions in strengthening relationships with private companies and NGOs to develop social projects.

Fusion Unleashed: A Comprehensive Analysis of Egypt's Digital Potential, the Growing Digital Economy, and its Socio-Economic Implications

This research paper explores the fusion-driven dynamics of Egypt's digital economy and its socio-economic implications, with a specific focus on the growth of e-commerce, FinTech, startups, and digital skills development. It explores the transformative effects of the digital economy on entrepreneurship, job creation, and inclusive participation in Egypt's evolving digital landscape. The study examines the barriers hindering inclusive access to digital technologies, digital skills, and digital financial services, aiming to propose strategies for promoting digital inclusion. Additionally, the research explores the role of social entrepreneurship in bridging the digital divide and fostering sustainable development in Egypt's digital economy. By analyzing the impact of social entrepreneurship initiatives, the study sheds light on innovative models that empower marginalized communities and contribute to the inclusive growth of the digital economy. The findings of this research contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing insights into the unique dynamics of Egypt's digital economy and the potential of social entrepreneurship in driving digital inclusion and sustainable development. The study concludes with recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders to foster an enabling environment that supports equitable and inclusive participation in Egypt's digital economy.

A framework for social business models analyses

Social entrepreneurial initiatives (SEI) answer problems and needs that otherwise would remain unattended. Therefore, they provide high collective interest social value achieved by a stable, reliable, and sustainable operation. Because the economic goal is a means to accomplish the social aim, it is hard to overcome resource constraints. SEIs must prove innovation and efficiency to access funding. However, the investment criteria are usually circumstantial or abstract. Additionally, the theory lacks the recommendation to enlighten how to increase the chances to be funded. The literature does not offer consensual, consistent, empirically tested criteria to compare business models. To help address these issues, this paper provides a Delphi analysis of a social business model taxonomy. The following criteria selected interviews from a broad study: 1) have qualitative and quantitative data recorded; 2) represent different SEIs’ types in the taxonomy. Then, four invited scholars blindly reviewed the data. They are experts in social innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and social psychology. Online meetings helped to solve doubts and build synthesis. All Delphi participants described their opinion about the taxonomy fit by e-mail. Results were also compared by previous statistical classification. The Delphi process happened from December 2020 to June 2021. The similarity between statistical and analytical results indicated that the taxonomy is an efficient tool to identify and compare elements of the social business model. The study made the taxonomy easier and more replicable, providing an analytical framework. Evidence can help social agents and investors to frame information and achieve better decision-making.

Understanding the Social Entrepreneurship Diversity From Its Initiatives’ Feature

Social entrepreneurial initiatives (SEIs) seek to efficiently meet the basic human needs, that conventional structures fail to satisfy. It is a multidimensional concept whose research field is not delimited, still lacking agreed-upon definitions and orientations. This exploratory study seeks to contribute to the clarification of SEI’ s concept by identifying their features. Therefore, a survey was conducted with 30 participants of intensive training on social entrepreneurship [bootcamp] in Portugal. The data was treated through factor and cluster analysis. The results indicate that most Portuguese SEIs come from third sector organizations seeking to develop efficiency through management practices. The statistically significant features found were management capacity, social capacity, entrepreneurial orientation. Additionally, results suggest that ecosystem and business model features interplay can depict different types of SEI aligned to philanthropy or market tendencies.

ІННОВАЦІЇ В СОЦІАЛЬНОМУ ПІДПРИЄМНИЦТВІ ЯК НЕСТАНДАРТНИЙ ПОГЛЯД НА ПРОБЛЕМИ

The research concerns the positioning of social entrepreneurship as an innovative form of business, its ability to innovate, economic and social solutions to social problems, including poverty, support for vulnerable groups, environmental protection, human rights, energy security, conservation and restoration of land resources, uneven distribution of capital, etc. The lack of resources in the state budget and funding of the social sphere on a residual basis encourages people and communities to intensify and seek innovative approaches to solving their problems. Social entrepreneurship is perceived as an unconventional view that rethinks the essence of the problem that changes people's lives, improves their living environment, increases welfare, creates conditions for vulnerable groups to access the benefits of the modern world. In many parts of the world, social entrepreneurship initiatives often outpace the state's response to current challenges, create millions of jobs, generate significant financial capital and tax and public investment in state and local budgets, proving their competitiveness against alternative models of socio-economic development. development. The development of the concept of social enterprise involves in-depth analysis of social problems and building cost-effective business solutions based on business modeling, the main purpose of which is a reliable, clear and simple description of the future company during enterprise development. social enterprises. road map for social entrepreneurs. To overcome the crisis, it is important to innovate, promote competitive products and develop the high-tech market. It is the innovative approach that can be the impetus for restoring the country's economic situation. Thus, an effective mechanism for ensuring the creation of innovations is a socially responsible startup, ie a startup created for social purposes. In Ukraine, social entrepreneurship is a fairly new field of activity that is of great interest to various groups of concerned citizens and entrepreneurs. In modern realities, social entrepreneurship is becoming one of the important and effective tools for solving social problems of both civil society and small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine and a leader in various sectors of the economy of any developed country.

SURVIVAL CAUSAL PATTERNS OF SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVES IN SPAIN

This research aims at analysing the influence of a holistic configuration of factors related to industry and the characteristics of the entrepreneur and the business, on the survival of social and commercial entrepreneurial initiatives in both, new and consolidated companies. The sample ranges from 2,851 to 2,109 firms, according to the period considered, and has been obtained from the reports of the projects submitted to the Assistance Programme to Young Entrepreneurs, promoted by the Valencian Institute of Youth. Other sources of information have been the Institute’s own reports and the Chambers of Commerce. A configurational analysis is performed using the Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. The results obtained show that there is no necessary condition by itself and that there are several sufficient solutions that explain a considerable percentage of survival cases. They also show how the solutions vary significantly and, consequently, the relevance of the different causal antecedents, when the company acquires greater maturity.

Are extractive ventures more socio-environmentally committed?

This article analyzes social entrepreneurial initiatives of established and early-stage extractive and non-extractive businesses. Empirical results based on the GEM Adult Population Survey 2015 show that extractive businesses are more likely to engage in social initiatives than non-extractive ones. However, both types of businesses show moderate commitment to social and environmental aspects of social entrepreneurship, such as reinvestment of profits and impact. This evidence lends mild support to the notion of a social license to operate.On the other hand, a structural equation model for the social entrepreneurial process shows that social awareness is fostered by a strong social entrepreneurial culture and strict protection of property rights, and led by extractive, innovative and growing businesses. This evidence suggests that social awareness may be a mechanism to facilitate long-term sustainability and moderate social license concerns.

Characterisation of Impact Funds and Their Potential in the Context of the 2030 Agenda

The European Union has incorporated impact investment through two action plans: the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Investment Plan for Europe. These financing tools seek to fund economic growth and promote job creation. Among the different measures carried out, the regulatory framework for impact investment funds stands out, under which the denomination, European Social Entrepreneurship Fund, is established to designate investment funds focused on social enterprises with the objective of generating a positive impact. It is possible to affirm that the creation of a solid impact intermediation infrastructure, by connecting both sides of supply and demand, is a critical aspect for the development and effective functioning of the impact market. Special importance is given to impact funds capable of attracting private capital. In order to categorise the different impact funds according to the most relevant aspects, a proposal form for the characterisation of impact funds has been drawn up and has been applied to a particular case. The presentation of Creas will allow for contextualising the practices that impact funds carry out and facilitate the general understanding of the article through a specific example that is considered successful in Spain.

Integrating Social Innovation into the Curriculum of Higher Education Institutions in Latin America: Insights from the Students4Change Project

In the last two decades, social innovation (SI) and social entrepreneurship (SE) have gained relevance and interest within the framework of academia at international level. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are key players in promoting innovation and social entrepreneurship initiatives that respond to multifaceted challenges. They support strategies on the basis of the strengthening of participation, collaboration, and cooperation with society and its local communities. However, the approach of Latin American universities to SI and SE has been very uneven in the way they have understood them, integrated them into academic programmes, and transferred knowledge to society. On the basis of the experience of the Students4Change project, we sought to understand the role of Latin American HEIs in promoting social innovations by analysing the experiences of 10 participating universities to formalise a pedagogical programme on SI and SE in their institutions. The results suggest that there is still a need to formalise an academic syllabus that is specifically designed to promote social innovations and to train universities in this endeavour. This paper contributes to the identification of the main levers of change, strengths, and challenges that Latin American universities face to institutionalise SI and SE in their contexts.

Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development: The Case of Social Enterprises in Azerbaijan

The social entrepreneurship theory is still in the conceptualization phase, as each country has individual specifics and approaches to define social entrepreneurship initiatives. The main objective of this paper is to explore the characteristics and backgrounds of social entrepreneurship from Azerbaijan’s perspective, especially its importance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. To fulfill the objective, there are a few main research questions defined: How do local social entrepreneurs use both business acumen and philanthropic principles to address social, cultural, and environmental challenges? How can Social Entrepreneurship contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in Azerbaijan? A qualitative research method was used to gather data through a semi-structured questionnaire. It was found that local social enterprises change the structures and systems that create the conditions for poverty, and the development processes need to consider the link between social entrepreneurship and sustainable development. This paper has significant implications, especially for the stakeholders and policymakers. It indicates the current position of local social ventures about sustainable development and offers some global practices and experiences to improve and facilitate the process and attracts the attention of policymakers on the performance of social enterprises.

Programa Enactus CUValles

El Centro Universitario de los Valles (CUValles) de la Universidad de Guadalajara (UdeG) ofrece, en su programa de Formación Integral, un taller de emprendimiento social de alto impacto desarrollado por la iniciativa Enactus CUValles, conformada por estudiantes y profesores que trabajan voluntariamente en la puesta en marcha de emprendimientos sociales. Alumnos de todas las carreras participan en el taller y en las iniciativas de emprendimiento social, donde adquieren en la práctica conocimientos sobre la iniciativa de negocios, una visión social y habilidades profesionales relacionadas con el trabajo colaborativo y el desarrollo de proyectos. Entre los resultados destaca el desarrollo de 71 proyectos, la capacitación de más de 5000 personas en modelo de negocios y técnicas especializadas, el triunfo de los estudiantes en competencias nacionales, la rápida inserción laboral de los egresados participantes y los testimonios de ellos mismos y de los docentes que fungen como guías académicos acerca de los aprendizajes obtenidos y su utilidad en la vida profesional.