A three-dimensional model of sustainable entrepreneurship perceptions: insights from business students

Purpose This study aims to enhance knowledge about the content and the antecedents of students’ perceptions of sustainable entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative interview study with business students at a Danish University was conducted to explore students’ considerations of sustainability and entrepreneurship and their understanding of how both concepts are interrelated. Findings The authors propose a three-dimensional model of students’ implicit sustainable entrepreneurship theories. The model reveals that students’ perceptions are shaped by their views on sustainability’s meaning for businesses, the relationship between profit and sustainability and the characteristics of a sustainable entrepreneur. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to address issues surrounding students’ perceptions of sustainable entrepreneurship. It is also among the first investigations applying the concept of implicit entrepreneurship theory to theorise students’ sensemaking of sustainable entrepreneurship.