Educating To Transform: Influence of University Education on the Social and Entrepreneurial Consciousness of the Future Dentist

This study examines how university education influences the development ofsocial responsibility and entrepreneurial intention among dental students at apublic university in Peru. Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, we appliedtwo validated instruments: the Health Social Responsibility Scale (HSRS) and theEntrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ), to a census sample of 27senior-level students. Findings reveal that 77.8% of participants demonstrate avery high level of social responsibility, while 59.3% show a high level ofentrepreneurial intention. A statistically significant positive correlation wasobserved between both variables. These results suggest that educationalexperiences that foster ethical engagement and community awareness may alsoenhance students’ entrepreneurial orientation. Grounded in transformative learningtheory and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this studyemphasizes the need to reframe dental education to produce professionals whoare not only clinically competent but also socially committed and capable ofleading systemic change in public health. The findings provide evidence-basedinsights for curriculum reform in health sciences, particularly in contexts ofstructural inequality and limited access to oral healthcare.