Traditional, social, and sustainable student entrepreneurship in the university context - a systematic review

Abstract

This article presents a systematic review of the literature on traditional, social, and sustainable entrepreneurship in university contexts, applying the PRISMA protocol to analyze a total of 7,184 articles published until 2024. The central objective is to map the current state of knowledge, identify predominant thematic structures, analyze evolving trends, and detect conceptual gaps in this field of study. The findings reveal sustained growth in scientific production since 2010, with a significant boom between 2020 and 2024, a period that accounts for 49% of all publications. Three major thematic clusters are consolidated: "entrepreneurial intention," as the articulating axis of the field, closely linked to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and validated using statistical techniques such as SEM/PLS-SEM; "entrepreneurial education," as a basic theme connecting educational theory and practice, including curricula, innovative methodologies, and entrepreneurial competencies; and "entrepreneurial activities" as a niche topic focused on technology transfer, economic development, and the formation of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Furthermore, new lines of research are emerging that focus on the active role of universities in promoting social and sustainable entrepreneurship, especially in postpandemic scenarios. The thematic evolution shows a shift from macroeconomic perspectives toward individual-centered approaches, with a conceptual transition from human capital to social capital. In conclusion, the study confirms a structural maturity of the field, where entrepreneurial intention is positioned as the dominant construct, while the social and sustainability components are beginning to be progressively integrated, although still with less centrality. Universities stand out as strategic agents for incubating ventures with economic, social, and environmental value. This work contributes to offering a panoramic view of the field and identifies future opportunities to explore emerging pedagogical approaches, synergies with public policies, and institutional impact metrics in the promotion of social and sustainable entrepreneurship.