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Sustainable Innovation in Higher Education: The Impact of Gender on Innovation Competences

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  • Raquel Ferreras-Garcia

    (School of Business and Economics, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08035 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jordi Sales-Zaguirre

    (School of Tourism and Hospitality Management Sant Ignasi, Universitat Ramon Llull, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Enric Serradell-López

    (School of Business and Economics, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08035 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

There is currently an increasing interest for sustainable innovation in our society. The European agendas highlight the role of higher education institutions in the formation and development of innovation competences among students. Our study aimed to contribute to the analysis of the level of achievement of students’ innovation competences by considering two sustainable development goals (SDG) of the 2030 United Nations’ Agenda: Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Quality Education (SDG 4). This article tries to answer how business students perceive their own innovation competences and which innovative competences are best achieved by students, as well as if there are differences in the achievement of these competences depending on the students’ gender. Our results, from a sample of 360 students in the Business Administration and Management Bachelor’s Degree at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, confirm the extensive development of innovation competences. Moreover, female students present a high level of preparation for innovation-oriented action. These findings have educational implications for potentiating the innovation competences and environments where females can attain innovation skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Raquel Ferreras-Garcia & Jordi Sales-Zaguirre & Enric Serradell-López, 2021. "Sustainable Innovation in Higher Education: The Impact of Gender on Innovation Competences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5004-:d:546267
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    2. Stanislav Avsec & Magdalena Jagiełło-Kowalczyk & Agnieszka Żabicka, 2022. "Enhancing Transformative Learning and Innovation Skills Using Remote Learning for Sustainable Architecture Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-33, March.
    3. Andreja Abina & Bojan Cestnik & Rebeka Kovačič Lukman & Sara Zavernik & Matevž Ogrinc & Aleksander Zidanšek, 2023. "Transformation of the RESPO Decision Support System to Higher Education for Monitoring Sustainability-Related Competencies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Dolors Cañabate & Remigijus Bubnys & Lluís Nogué & Lurdes Martínez-Mínguez & Carolina Nieva & Jordi Colomer, 2021. "Cooperative Learning to Reduce Inequalities: Instructional Approaches and Dimensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Nosheen Fatma & Abid Haleem, 2023. "Exploring the Nexus of Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Review and Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.

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