Sustainable entrepreneurship: examining stimulus-organism-response to the nexus of environment, education and motivation

Purpose The multidimensional decision-making framework of sustainable entrepreneurship affects student behavior in higher education institutions. Thus, the sustainable entrepreneurship environment has long attracted scholars and policymakers. Based on “Stimulus Organism Response (SOR),” this study examines serial mediation of sustainable entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial motivation to link sustainable entrepreneurial environment and intentions. Further, it also explored the moderating role of a sustainable entrepreneurial environment. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 408 students of Indian higher education institutes in NCR using a purposive sampling technique. Smart PLS-SEM was utilized for assessing the structural model, and a goodness-of-fit assessment was done with Amos 22. Findings The findings revealed the significant impact of a sustainable entrepreneurial environment on sustainable entrepreneurial education, motivation and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, sustained entrepreneurial education has the most important influence on student motivation and considerable serial mediation. Also, the moderating role of a sustainable entrepreneurial environment was found to be significant for linkages of entrepreneurial motivation and sustainable entrepreneurial education with sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. Practical implications The study will assist HEIs and scholars in understanding the role of sustainability in entrepreneurial courses to increase student intentions to start sustainable businesses. Social implications This study helps policymakers and HEIs understand what motivates students to pursue sustainable entrepreneurship. This research might improve the well-being of education stakeholders and the community in achieving sustainable development goals. Originality/value The study is the first to analyze how sustainable entrepreneurial education and motivation serially mediate the link between a sustainable entrepreneurial environment and aspirations to establish a sustainable business and contribute to the existing literature of SOR from a new perspective.