Emerging Need of Social Business in Mainstream Education to Combat Unemployment and Foster Entrepreneurship Development in Countries like Bangladesh

Abstract

This study explores the emerging need to integrate social business into mainstream education in Bangladesh to address youth unemployment and foster entrepreneurship development. The research aims to examine how education systems can be reoriented to bridge the gap between academic learning and labor market demands while promoting socially responsible enterprise. A qualitative comparative methodology was employed, drawing on literature review, policy analysis, and evaluation of global and national initiatives related to social business and entrepreneurship education. The findings reveal a significant mismatch between education and employability, with graduates lacking practical and entrepreneurial skills, while industries face shortages of competent human resources. Although Bangladesh has pioneered social business models, their integration into formal education remains limited due to challenges such as rigid curricula, insufficient teacher capacity, lack of institutional support, and absence of a clear legal framework. However, successful examples from both Bangladesh and other countries demonstrate that curriculum innovation, university-based incubators, and supportive ecosystems can enhance youth engagement in social entrepreneurship. The study concludes that embedding social business into education can transform students from job seekers into job creators, contributing to inclusive development, reduce unemployment, and achievement of sustainable development goals, thereby requiring coordinated policy and institutional reforms.