This study examines how Higher Education Institutions' Social Responsibility (HEISR) influences students' social entrepreneurship intentions (SEI), with attitudes toward sustainability (ATS) as a mediator and gender as a moderator, aiming to enhance the explanatory power of HEISR in shaping SEI.
A quantitative approach was employed using an online questionnaire administered to 458 business students in Tunisian HEIs. The sample was diverse in terms of age and gender, allowing for a broad analysis of student perceptions. The model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 4), including moderation via interaction terms.
Results show that: (1) HEISR is significantly associated with ATS and SEI; (2) ATS partially mediates HEISR–SEI relationship and (3) gender significantly moderates the HEISR–SEI path, with the relationship being unexpectedly stronger among male students, while no significant moderation is observed for the HEISR–ATS path.
The findings highlight that HEIs should embed inclusive HEISR and sustainability-focused education to reduce awareness gaps, foster social entrepreneurship and support national development goals. The study further emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive policies to enhance student engagement and strengthen HEIs' role in driving social transformation.
This study examines the interplay between HEISR, ATS and SEI – concepts rarely integrated in a single framework. It further innovates by combining ATS-mediated mechanisms with gender-based moderation, offering an integrated lens for sustainability education research in a developing-country context.
