Business English as a Catalyst for Social Entrepreneurship Among Management Students at Makassar State University

Abstract

Business English plays a strategic role in management education by enabling students to access global business knowledge and develop professional communication skills relevant to entrepreneurial contexts. However, limited research has examined how Business English contributes to social entrepreneurial orientation among management students in Indonesian higher education, where English is learned as a foreign language (EFL). This qualitative study explores the role of Business English as a catalyst for social entrepreneurship among 10 management students at Makassar State University. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis of course syllabi and materials, and were analyzed using thematic analysis with triangulation to ensure credibility. The findings reveal five key themes: prior entrepreneurial exposure, perceptions of Business English as a distinct professional communication tool, development of entrepreneurial competencies such as presentations and negotiations, increased awareness of social entrepreneurship through global case studies, and persistent EFL challenges like limited vocabulary and fear of grammatical errors that sometimes constrained participation. Theoretically, this study extends the application of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention theories to the specific domain of language learning. Practically, the findings suggest that integrating social entrepreneurship themes into Business English curricula could better prepare management students to create ventures that generate both economic and social value.