Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology)
This study aimed to design and validate an entrepreneurship-oriented curriculum framework for management and social services fields at the University of Applied Science and Technology. This applied research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design, conducted in two distinct phases. In the qualitative phase, using a case study approach, data were collected through systematic document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 18 experts (including curriculum development specialists, entrepreneurs, and educational administrators) until theoretical saturation was achieved. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings from this phase led to the development of a preliminary framework consisting of 4 dimensions (objectives, content, teaching-learning methods, and assessment), 15 components, and 75 indicators. In the quantitative phase, for external validation of the developed framework, a researcher-made questionnaire based on qualitative findings was distributed among a sample of 386 stakeholders (including faculty members, students, and entrepreneurs). The questionnaire contained 60 items on a five-point Likert scale. Content validity was confirmed by experts, and reliability was established with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) in SPSS software. The Chi-square test results revealed a statistically significant consensus (p < 0.05) among different stakeholder groups regarding the framework components. Furthermore, descriptive analysis indicated that the average agreement rate across all dimensions and components exceeded 78%. Consequently
Ahmadi, A. , jahani, J. , marzooghi, R. and salimi, Q. (2026). Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology). Journal of Curriculum Research, 16(1), 190-163. doi: 10.22099/jcr.2026.8788
MLA
Ahmadi, A. , , jahani, J. , , marzooghi, R. , and salimi, Q. . "Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology)", Journal of Curriculum Research, 16, 1, 2026, 190-163. doi: 10.22099/jcr.2026.8788
HARVARD
Ahmadi, A., jahani, J., marzooghi, R., salimi, Q. (2026). 'Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology)', Journal of Curriculum Research, 16(1), pp. 190-163. doi: 10.22099/jcr.2026.8788
CHICAGO
A. Ahmadi , J. jahani , R. marzooghi and Q. salimi, "Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology)," Journal of Curriculum Research, 16 1 (2026): 190-163, doi: 10.22099/jcr.2026.8788
VANCOUVER
Ahmadi, A., jahani, J., marzooghi, R., salimi, Q. Design and Validation of an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem-Based Curriculum Framework in Higher Education (A Case Study: Management and Social Services Disciplines at the University of Applied Science and Technology). Journal of Curriculum Research, 2026; 16(1): 190-163. doi: 10.22099/jcr.2026.8788
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