Abstract:

Higher education institutions are increasingly expected to integrate sustainability transversally in response to complex social and environmental challenges. This paper analyzes how a cross-curricular Service-Learning model, organized under a triple helix governance framework, can foster both student learning and the strengthening of sustainable practices in community-based enterprises.

The study focuses on the experience developed at the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración (CESA) from 2022 to 2025 in partnership with the Bogota Botanical Garden and urban agriculture enterprises associated with the public program “Bogotá es mi Huerta.” Using an interpretative qualitative approach, the research was designed as a single case study with multiple levels of analysis. The intervention was embedded in the formal curriculum and implemented in two stages: a Problem-Based Learning phase in a marketing course and a second Service-Learning phase in a sustainable business models course. Data were gathered through focus groups with students, surveys with entrepreneurs, and in-depth interviews with representatives of the public partner institution.

Results indicate that the model generated relevant impacts in two areas. First, students developed a more systemic understanding of sustainability challenges, moving beyond technical analysis toward the management of uncertainty, interdependence, and ethical tensions in real-world settings. Second, participating enterprises reported improvements in strategic clarity and benefited from co-creation processes with students and institutional partners.

The paper argues that Service-Learning, when embedded in a stable collaborative governance structure, can operate not only as a pedagogical strategy but also as an institutional mechanism for structural transformation. However, the study also identifies limitations related to the temporal gap between academic cycles and the slower pace of organizational change. These findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to design long-term governance arrangements that connect active learning, sustainability, and territorial engagement.

Keywords:

Service-Learning, Sustainable Business Models, Active Learning, Systemic Thinking, Marketing Research.