Promoting social innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals: the role of higher education institutions in Africa

Universities are increasingly expected to address sustainable development challenges through research, teaching, and ‘third mission’ activities at local, national, and global levels. However, much research has focused on economic aspects, using frameworks like the ‘entrepreneurial university’ and the ‘triple and quadruple helix’ models, with less attention given to social and environmental impacts and the 'engaged' role of universities. Research on universities in the Global South, especially Africa, is particularly lacking, with African universities' efforts often underrecognized and misunderstood, and subject to persistent negative paternalist and colonial perceptions. This chapter aims to address these issues by critically reviewing the literature on universities, social innovation, and sustainable development. It also provides an in-depth exploration of the activities, opportunities, and barriers facing African universities, focusing on the University of Cape Town (UCT). South Africa’s extreme inequality drives its universities to contribute to local development, socio-economic transformation, and the climate transition. Through a social innovation perspective, we present evidence from three UCT initiatives exemplifying social intrapreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and social extrapreneurship. Our findings highlight the opportunities and challenges African universities face in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enriching our understanding of their work beyond traditional research and teaching and emphasizing their role as agents of change.