Author

  • Norfazlina Ghazali

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Nini Hartini Asnawi

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Dilla Syadia Ab Latiff

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Nor Fazalina Salleh

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Lina Nadia Abd Rahim

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Nur Atiqah Zakiyyah Ramlee

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Norzawani Abd Rahim

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Ayu Rohaidah Ghazali

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Nur Najjah Abd Rahim

    • Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Ahmad Nazri Tashriq Rahmat

    • Tourism Selangor, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

Abstract

This conceptual paper explores the intersection of sustainability education and social entrepreneurship through an experiential learning lens. While environmental challenges continue to escalate globally, there remains a significant gap in pedagogical approaches that effectively integrate hands-on sustainability education with entrepreneurial thinking, especially among younger learners. This study addresses this gap by proposing a framework grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, focusing on how immersive, community-based environmental activities can cultivate sustainable values, social responsibility, and entrepreneurial skills among youth. The framework is modeled on a structured one-day environmental engagement program involving real-world activities aligned with four stages of Kolb’s learning cycle: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The program design is further mapped to relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The paper finds that such experiential interventions have strong potential in shaping responsible, action-oriented learners and offers a replicable model for integrating green social entrepreneurship into sustainability education. The proposed framework contributes to the growing body of literature by offering a structured pedagogical model that blends environmental stewardship, community engagement, and entrepreneurial learning for youth development.

Keywords

References

  • Ahmad, A., Abu Bakar, A., & Ahmad, N. (2020). Embedding environmental sustainability in entrepreneurial education: A Malaysian perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276, 123-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123149
  • Arslan, A., & ?eker, E. (2021). Experiential learning in environmental education: Impacts on secondary school students' attitudes. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 16(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.21601/jeseh.809193
  • Balsiger, J., Prys-Hansen, M., & Bieri, S. (2022). Beyond awareness: Advancing environmental education through local experiential learning. Environmental Education Research, 28(3), 353–372. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.2008054
  • Barros, C., & Pinheiro, M. (2021). Reflective learning for environmental sustainability: Adolescents’ post-program identity formation. Sustainability, 13(7), 3932. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073932
  • Barth, M., & Rieckmann, M. (2020). Experiential learning in sustainability education: A critical review. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21(6), 1121–1139. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2020-0064
  • Falk, J. H., & Harrison, J. (2018). The role of informal learning in developing sustainability awareness. Environmental Education Research, 24(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2017.1392482
  • Hedin, N. (2020). Active learning strategies for sustainability education. Journal of Cleaner Production, 267, 122-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122155
  • Hockerts, K. (2015). The effect of experiential social entrepreneurship education on intention formation in school students. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 6(3), 332–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2015.1089289
  • Jabareen, Y. (2009). Building a conceptual framework: Philosophy, definitions, and procedure. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(4), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690900800406
  • Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
  • Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2017). The experiential educator: Principles and practices of experiential learning. Kaunakakai, HI: EBLS Press.
  • Ko, H. C., & Chiu, C. H. (2022). Sustainability through experiential learning: A case study on eco-innovation projects. Sustainability, 14(1), 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010114
  • Kummitha, R. K. R., & Majumdar, S. (2021). Developing eco-social innovation in youth through entrepreneurship education. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 27(8), 1907–1925. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-07-2020-0504
  • Merriam, S. B., & Bierema, L. L. (2018). Adult learning: Linking theory and practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Norazah, M. S., Shahrina, M. N., & Faridahwati, M. S. (2022). Experiential entrepreneurship education in Malaysian higher learning institutions. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 27(1), 23–45. https://doi.org/10.21315/aamj2022.27.1.2
  • Rowe, A. D., & Gentile, D. (2020). Transformative sustainability education in schools through community-based projects. Journal of Environmental Education, 51(5), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2020.1787313
  • Sassmannshausen, S. P., & Volkmann, C. (2018). A bibliometric-based review on social entrepreneurship and its role in sustainable development. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 9, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2018.01.002
  • Sharma, A., Tiwari, G., & Nair, R. (2021). Enhancing eco-social innovation among youth through experiential learning. Sustainability, 13(15), 8562. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158562
  • Sterling, S. (2021). Educating for the future we want: Transformative learning and sustainability. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 15(2), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1177/09734082211031565
  • Tilbury, D. (2011). Education for Sustainable Development: An expert review of processes and learning. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000191442
  • UNESCO. (2020). Education for Sustainable Development: A roadmap. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000374802
  • Wahab, S. A., Ghazali, M., & Che Hassan, N. A. (2023). Community-integrated experiential education: Impact on youth’s environmental leadership. Journal of Environmental Studies, 9(2), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.60000/jes.2023.9.2.004
  • Wiek, A., Withycombe Keeler, L., & Schweizer-Ries, P. (2019). Participatory and transdisciplinary sustainability education. Sustainability Science, 14(5), 1283–1295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00675-x
  • Yuen, C. Y. (2021). Sustainability education in Malaysia: Challenges and opportunities for reform. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 41(3), 415–430. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2021.1921005
  • Zainudin, S., Hamzah, N., & Hassan, R. (2022). Youth action for sustainability through experiential green programs: Evidence from Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Youth Studies, 16(1), 88–105. https://myjurnal.mohe.gov.my/public/article-view.php?id=180012
  • Zamzuri, N. H., Jamaludin, H., & Sulaiman, N. A. (2023). Values-based environmental education and youth identity development. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2022-0245

Downloads

No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.

How to Cite

Ghazali, N., Asnawi, N. H., Ab Latiff, D. S., Salleh, N. F., Abd Rahim, L. N., Ramlee, N. A. Z., Abd Rahim, N., Ghazali, A. R., Abd Rahim, N. N., & Rahmat, A. N. T. (2025). Fostering Sustainability through Experiential Green Social Entrepreneurship: A Conceptual Approach Using Kolb’s Learning Theory. Information Management and Business Review, 17(3(I), 237-243. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i3(I).4686

Share this article

Section

Research Paper

Published

2025-09-13

Submissions

Have research to publish? Information Management and Business Review welcomes submissions.

Make a Submission