ROLE OF HEIS IN PROMOTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP - A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is receiving a lot of attention due to its growing importance as a powerful tool to address challenging societal issues, while fostering economic development worldwide. In this context, the role of higher education institutions in promoting social entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant area of study. In West Bengal, higher education plays a crucial role in encouraging social entrepreneurship by cultivating a culture of innovation, equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and skills they need to succeed, as well as offering a platform for confronting the socio-economic problems. Higher education institutions in West Bengal can integrate social entrepreneurship courses and modules into their curricula. These programs will develop an ecosystem which will encourage students to understand the dynamics of social issues and create innovative solutions to combine business principles with societal impact. In West Bengal, Kolkata is the key pioneer in the creation of the contemporary educational system ((Invest in West Bengal, n.d.). Hence the present study intends to explore the role of higher education in promoting social entrepreneurship with respect to the Kolkata district of West Bengal. To achieve the objectives of the research work, 124 students enrolled under Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kolkata are surveyed. Statistical test such as Kruskal-Wallis test and factor analysis has been conducted to understand the various factors that affecting the contribution of higher education institutions in promoting social entrepreneurship among the students in Kolkata.