88 The ReSPoNSE Partnership and the MBS in Responsible Entrepreneurship

Dr Teresa O’Rourke presented ReSPoNSE—the multi-institutional partnership that designed and now delivers Ireland’s first MBS in Responsible Entrepreneurship, funded through the HEA’s Entrepreneurship Education Initiative (Strand 1). Led by DkIT, in collaboration with MTU, ATU, UCC, and TUS, the €246,000 project co-designed, validated, and launched a fully funded, one-year, hybrid master’s degree aimed at developing responsible entrepreneurial leaders who can create sustainable ventures or drive socially responsible innovation within existing organisations.

Dr O’Rourke outlined how the programme brings together academic expertise from multiple institutions, industry partners and national networks to reimagine entrepreneurship education through an ESD lens. The programme emphasises social justice, inclusion, sustainability, ethics, and strategic responsibility. Delivery is shared across partner institutions, with modules co-created and taught by distributed teams. Students participate in residential workshops, online seminars, industry-led projects, and a final major capstone: either a responsible new venture creation or an applied responsible-industry project.

The inaugural cohort reflects broad diversity in age, background and professional experience, with strong representation from women and mid-career professionals seeking to integrate sustainability into their business practice. The programme emphasises accessible, inclusive entrepreneurship, encouraging participation from underrepresented groups and supporting recognition of prior learning. Early student engagement suggests strong interest in progressing ideas through partner incubation hubs. Dr O’Rourke noted that ReSPoNSE demonstrates the potential of collaborative design to reshape national entrepreneurship education, embedding sustainability principles and preparing graduates to act as responsible change-makers.