Nurturing entrepreneurial skills and mindsets: the imperative role of English methodology in higher education

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as a critical driver of economic growth, innovation, and graduate employability in the global knowledge economy. While entrepreneurship education has traditionally been located within business and management disciplines, limited attention has been paid to the pedagogical role of English methodology in cultivating entrepreneurial skills and mindsets in higher education. This study addresses this gap by systematically reviewing empirical literature published between 2014 and 2025 to examine how English teaching methodologies contribute to the development of entrepreneurial competencies among university students. Guided by human capital theory, social learning theory, and the theory of planned behaviour, the study synthesises evidence from peer-reviewed studies across diverse higher education contexts. The findings indicate that learner-centred, communicative, and experiential English pedagogies play a significant role in fostering key entrepreneurial attributes, including creativity, critical thinking, opportunity recognition, collaboration, adaptability, and persuasive communication. Approaches such as project-based learning, academic literacy instruction, digital storytelling, debate, and pitching tasks are shown to bridge linguistic competence with entrepreneurial agency by enabling students to apply language skills in authentic, problem-oriented contexts. Furthermore, English methodology emerges as a transversal pedagogical platform that supports interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across academic fields. The study concludes that integrating entrepreneurship-oriented English methodologies into higher education curricula is not supplementary but essential for preparing graduates to navigate complex labour markets and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The article offers practical implications for curriculum design, academic development, and institutional policy, positioning English methodology as a strategic contributor to entrepreneurship education and socio-economic development.

Keywords: {'name': 'English methodology;'}, {'name': 'entrepreneurial skills'}, {'name': 'experiential learning'}

Authors & affiliations

Israel Creleanor Mulaudzi
University of Venda

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