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From Campus to Community: The Role of Higher Education in Strengthening Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Appalachia

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study addresses a gap in understanding how small, rural liberal arts higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Appalachian College Association Entrepreneurial Alliance (ACAEA) support regional entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), and how, if at all, those strategies vary across Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county economic classifications. Using a qualitative multi-case design, the study examined 10 ACAEA institutions and drew on semi-structured interviews, site observations, institutional documents (including strategic plans), and ARC county-level economic data. The analysis produced five cross-case themes describing how these institutions support entrepreneurship: (a) strategic leadership and institutional culture, (b) experiential and embedded entrepreneurial education, (c) community-driven partnerships and outreach, (d) resource constraints and funding models, and (e) adaptation to regional economic conditions and social impact. Findings indicate that while institutions faced similar structural challenges, their responses varied by local context. HEIs operated as flexible actors, adapting engagement strategies to community needs and opportunities rather than being shaped solely by ARC classification. The study concludes that strengthening rural EEs through HEIs depends on leadership alignment, experiential learning structures, partnership capacity, and sustainable resourcing. Future research could examine these patterns longitudinally and comparatively across Appalachian HEIs beyond the ACAEA and could incorporate additional perspectives, including students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other ecosystem actors, to better understand ecosystem outcomes and adaptation over time.
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7149232495
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