Institutional strategy of social entrepreneurship development in higher education

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to study the institutional strategies of higher education institutions for the development of social entrepreneurship and the existing formal structures aimed at supporting this activity, as well as to outline the directions of university activities implemented according to the strategies. Methodology. The research is based on the collection and analysis of data from the official websites of 10 universities from different countries of Europe and America, which either clearly state efforts to develop social entrepreneurship, or have entrepreneurship development together with a focus on the third mission of the university. The empirical data are combined with the outlines of modern scientific research of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the topics of social entrepreneurship and the third mission of universities. The results of the study show that universities around the world are paying more and more attention to the importance of their third mission and see themselves at the heart of community development in all its diversity of needs and activities. At the same time, very few define the development of social entrepreneurship as one of their objectives, and most work on entrepreneurship development in general, pointing to the importance of directing university education and research towards tackling social challenges. Practical implications. As many universities already have administrative support and a range of activities for the development of entrepreneurship education and youth start-ups, together with a focus on the third mission of universities, a favourable environment is being created to introduce the development of social entrepreneurship as one of the strategic goals of modern higher education institutions under the conditions of modern global issues. Value/originality. The study was carried out as part of a young researchers' project on the development of social entrepreneurship centres at Ukrainian universities for the post-war development of the country.