The Undergraduate Research-Student-Entrepreneurship Nexus: Lessons from Civil Engineering

The acquisition of entrepreneurial skills is increasingly critical for higher education institutions, particularly in the Global South, given the persistent rise in unemployment rates. In South Africa, unemployment reached 31.9 % as of the last quarter of 2024, with notably higher rates among university graduates. Consequently, entrepreneurship education has become a priority in government policies. However, entrepreneurship education in South African universities tends to remain theoretical, despite dedicated entrepreneurship centres. This creates a disconnect between entrepreneurship centres, students, and lecturers, thereby limiting the development of sustainable businesses. This study aimed to investigate and enhance engineering students’ engagement in innovation and entrepreneurship by integrating undergraduate research with practical entrepreneurial activities. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combined quantitative data from questionnaire surveys and qualitative insights from workshops involving Civil Engineering Diploma students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The students participated in activities at Innobiz, the university's entrepreneurship centre. Additional data were gathered from secondary sources such as academic journals and institutional reports. The data were analysed via both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of student engagement. The findings suggest that the integrating research and entrepreneurship can effectively increase students’ awareness of and involvement in entrepreneurial activities. These insights could inform future educational strategies and policies to cultivate practical entrepreneurial competencies among graduates.