English for specific purposes in higher education: Integrating entrepreneurial and sustainability-oriented practices

The United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasises the need for implementation of strategies for the promotion of sustainability in all aspects of life including education. This paper reports on a study conducted in the context of the English for Commerce, Finance and Shipping course at the Cyprus University of Technology; it is one of the first attempts to explore the integration of sustainability-driven entrepreneurship training within ESP, addressing an emerging need in higher education. During the course, students attended an entrepreneurship training programme, which aimed at helping them to develop an entrepreneurial idea based on the concept of sustainability. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data, the study aimed at investigating whether the training programme improved students' English language proficiency and transversal competences. Data were elicited through an electronic questionnaire and students’ written reflections on the experience after the completion of the programme. The results of the study showed that the whole experience was generally perceived positively. Students stated that their language skills and other skills (e.g. critical thinking, inter-personal and intra-personal skills, media and information literacy, environmental sensitivity, etc.) were benefited. Certain challenges were also reported. The findings yield useful insights for teachers, course designers and researchers in the field of education in general and language teaching in particular.