Nurturing social entrepreneurship knowledge through experience: an action research

This paper aims to reveal the practises of social entrepreneurship pedagogy that based on experiential learning. Social
entrepreneurship is an important concept that should be understood and learn. The knowledge of social entrepreneurship should
be conversed smoothly and effectively to the tertiary education students. Those students should be able to differentiate the
concept and process between social entrepreneurship and commercial entrepreneurship. However, the common practise in
tertiary education employed the traditional approach and worse still the didactic approach which will not help the students to
reveal their self-learning and creativity. Therefore, this study shares the best practises of social entrepreneurship pedagogy that
utilised experiential learning and monitor the progress through action research. The action research in this study employed three
main steps which are the planning, the action and observation, and the reflection stage for the first round. In the second round, the
same process happened which are re-planning stage, action and observation, and lastly reflection stage. Three main themes have
been found which are the knowledge absorption, the application and the appreciation of social entrepreneurship concept. The
knowledge easily absorb through mind mapping on the wall. The understanding increase through application of creating and
managing social enterprise. Lastly, the knowledge installed in unconscious mind when the social entrepreneurship is appreciated.
This study shows that the experiential learning approach is suitable and effective in teaching and learning the social
entrepreneurship course. Future research can employed this method and pedagogy in teaching other entrepreneurship courses.