Preparing learners for a more sustainable future requires more than teaching entrepreneurship or sustainability as separate subjects. It calls for education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to address complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. To better understand how higher education is responding to this need, the GREENEDGE consortium has completed an extensive research phase examining the current state of sustainable entrepreneurship education across Europe.
Since the start of the project, the consortium has carried out both desk and field research to identify existing practices, challenges, and opportunities for integrating sustainability and entrepreneurship into higher education. The research brought together insights from literature, institutional analysis, and stakeholder engagement to provide a comprehensive picture of how sustainable entrepreneurship is currently taught.
ACEEU made significant contribution by collaborating on the research activities in Germany. This included organising a focus group with university students from disciplines related to entrepreneurship, sustainability, circular economy, innovation, and business. In addition, insights were collected from entrepreneurs, practitioner and educators. All these perspectives provided valuable insights into students' learning experiences, expectations, and the competencies they believe are essential for addressing sustainability challenges through entrepreneurial thinking.
Result from the research revealed that, while interest in sustainable entrepreneurship is growing, important gaps remain. Sustainability and entrepreneurship are often taught independently rather than through interdisciplinary learning experiences, limiting students' ability to connect entrepreneurial thinking with sustainable innovation. The findings also highlight the need for more practical, challenge-based learning opportunities, stronger collaboration with external stakeholders, and greater support for educators to integrate sustainability into entrepreneurship education.
These findings provide an important foundation for the next phase of the GREENEDGE project. The evidence gathered will guide the development of innovative educational resources and learning approaches that better prepare students to become entrepreneurs capable of driving sustainable change. By building on research and stakeholder engagement, GREENEDGE is contributing to a more relevant, future-oriented approach to entrepreneurship education across Europe.
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