Takawira Munyaradzi Ndofirepi

In the African context, university-affiliated business incubators are increasingly taking positions as key mechanisms for venture creation and facilitating technology commercialisation. Nonetheless, the existing evidence regarding what makes them effective continues to be largely shaped by research conducted in developed countries. This study draws on an entrepreneurial ecosystem and stakeholder perspective and adopts an interpretivist, qualitative exploratory design to explore what incubator personnel perceive as the critical success factors of university business incubators in Zimbabwe, and how they perceive these factors to relate to one another. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five key informants drawn purposively from the country’s three operational university incubators at the time of the study. The collected data were analysed thematically. Five interconnecting themes emerged. These include (1) funding as the foundational success factor, (2) stakeholder ecosystems and partnerships, (3) technical and mentorship support based on university expertise, (4) monitoring and evaluation systems as a source of legitimacy, and (5) contextual constraints arising from macroeconomic instability and institutional fragmentation. The findings suggest that where resources are constrained, the university staff associated university incubator effectiveness less with sophisticated venture financing mechanisms than with stakeholder orchestration, institutional legitimacy and hybrid support ecosystems. Such factors connect and synergise university, government, donor and private-sector resources. Implications for universities, incubator managers and policymakers are outlined.

Background: Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic activity, yet persistent gender gaps in entrepreneurial intentions lead to unequal participation between men and women in the economy. Aim: This study examines the role of key factors in shaping entrepreneurial intentions among men and women in South Africa. Setting: Cross-sectional data from the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Adult Population Survey. Methods: Data comprised of responses from 1475 men and 1516 women. A logistic regression model was employed to test the predictive relationships between demographic, perceptual and contextual factors and entrepreneurial intentions across genders. Results: Results indicate that age, self-efficacy and knowledge of entrepreneurs significantly predict entrepreneurial intentions for both men and women. However, fear of failure significantly deters women but has no statistically significant effect among men, highlighting a gender-specific psychological constraint. Conclusion: The study identifies the primary drivers in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and points out where gender-sensitive interventions may be useful. Contribution: This study provides a comprehensive examination of gendered factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions in the South African context, using a broad sample.

Purpose: This scoping review explores the relationship between educational technologies and student engagement in blended learning environments during the post-acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to identify the most effective technologies, their impact on engagement, and the challenges institutions face when implementing these tools. Study design/methodology/approach: The review adheres to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and follows the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework, which has been enhanced by Levac et al. (2010). A systematic search was conducted across the prescribed journals using keywords such as "blended learning," "student engagement," and "Covid-19." The inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2024, yielding 17 selected studies. Findings: The review emphasises key technologies such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), video-conferencing tools, and interactive multimedia resources that promote flexibility, active learning, and collaboration. Challenges included the digital divide, technical skill gaps, and alignment issues in pedagogy. Social and emotional support emerged as essential for maintaining engagement. Originality/value: The study provides universities with insights to optimise blended learning by addressing technological and pedagogical challenges. It underscores the need for inclusive strategies to support diverse student needs, fostering equitable and engaging learning experiences in the post-pandemic era.

Firm internationalisation, a key driver of global economic growth, is influenced by various entrepreneurial resources. This study explores the relationships between human capital, risk capital, risk acceptance, opportunity perception, and firm internationalisation using cross-national data from the Global Entrepreneurship Development Index (GEDI). Employing fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this study analyzes data from 137 countries. The findings highlight two primary configurations driving internationalisation: (1) risk acceptance and opportunity perception, and (2) risk capital and opportunity perception. Opportunity perception emerges as a critical factor in both configurations, while human capital is not found to be a necessary condition. These results contribute to a better understanding of the factors that foster firm internationalisation and inform policies aimed at promoting global entrepreneurial ecosystems.

This study explores the relationship between digital access, protection, and adoption in supporting technological entrepreneurship within national digital ecosystems. The study utilised PROCESS regression analysis on the Global Entrepreneurship Development Institute (GEDI)’s Digital Development Economy (DPE) Index 2020 dataset to examine selected digital factors’ direct and indirect effects on entrepreneurial activity across 116 countries. While the relationship between digital access, adoption, protection, and technological entrepreneurship has been established in previous research, this study provides global evidence to reinforce this connection. However, digital protection did not significantly moderate the effect of digital access. Notably, digital adoption emerged as a significant mediator, influencing the impacts of both access and protection on entrepreneurial outcomes. This study emphasises the importance of understanding the complex relationships between digital factors in cultivating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to stimulate technological innovation and economic growth.