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Implementing social projects with undergraduate students: an analysis of essential characteristics

Izabela Simon Rampasso (PNPD/CAPES Program, Doctoral Program in Sustainable Management Systems, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil and School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Renê Grottoli Siqueira (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Vitor W.B. Martins (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil and Department of Production Engineering, State University of Pará, Belém, Brazil)
Rosley Anholon (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas (Master Program in Management Systems and Doctoral Program in Sustainable Management Systems, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil)
Walter Leal Filho (School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, United Kingdom and Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany)
Amanda Lange Salvia (Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil)
Luis Antonio Santa-Eulalia (School of Management, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 29 September 2020

Issue publication date: 8 January 2021

406

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the essential characteristics for the success of social projects developed with undergraduate students of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted to verify the main characteristics of projects in a social entrepreneurship initiative. These features were used to perform a survey with experts to understand which of these items are essential for social projects success, through Lawshe’s method.

Findings

Of the ten items evaluated, two were considered essential by the experts: “Proper alignment between project scope and actual local community needs” and “Good level of interaction between students participating in the project and the local community”.

Practical implications

These findings can be useful for professors and coordinators to prepare future projects in HEIs. They may also be advantageous for researchers who may use them as a starting point for future studies.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is the methodological approach used: a case study of projects in a social entrepreneurship initiative in a relevant Brazilian university; and a Lawshe’s method analysis of responses of experts in social projects developed in HEIs. The findings can greatly contribute to the debates in this field. No similar research was found in the literature.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) under Grants 307536/2018-1 and 305442/2018-0; and by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001, under process 88887.464433/2019-00; Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA) under Grant 626/18.

Citation

Rampasso, I.S., Siqueira, R.G., Martins, V.W.B., Anholon, R., Quelhas, O.L.G., Leal Filho, W., Lange Salvia, A. and Santa-Eulalia, L.A. (2021), "Implementing social projects with undergraduate students: an analysis of essential characteristics", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2019-0323

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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