Title: Developing social entrepreneurs through business curriculum: a Canadian experience

Authors: Victoria Calvert, Kalinga Jagoda, Laurie Jensen

Addresses: Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ' Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ' Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Abstract: The authors propose a theoretical model suggesting that social entrepreneurial behaviours for business students may be developed through sequential exposure and experiential learning. It argues that by exposing students to CSR and sustainability in multiple functional classes, then enabling the development of creativity and innovation through projects with community organisations, that students will develop a predisposition to social entrepreneurship. Initial results indicate the leap to socially responsible actions is facilitated by coop terms whereby students create ventures, and that the students exhibit social entrepreneurship by creating ventures that require innovative solutions, while pursuing a social mission, with limited financing.

Keywords: innovation; service learning; social entrepreneurship; business curriculum; Canada; social entrepreneurs; business education; business students; higher education; experiential learning; venture creation; universities; entrepreneurial behaviour; sequential exposure; CSR; sustainability; multiple functional classes; corporate social responsibility; sustainable development; creativity; community organisations; socially responsible actions; coop terms; innovative solutions; social missions; limited financing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2011.042077

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2011 Vol.10 No.3, pp.215 - 225

Published online: 26 Nov 2014 *

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