Teaching Entrepreneurship with AI: A Review of Universities of Technology in
South Africa
email: mlekhu@cut.ac.za
A B S T R A C T
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes embedded in university education, it is fundamentally shifting educational practices, presenting personalized, data-driven, and scalable solutions that are reshaping pedagogical paradigms. While global interest in AI-enhanced instruction continues to grow, there is a dearth of research on its specific application within entrepreneurship education at South Africa’s Universities of Technology (UoTs). Through a systematic literature review, this study examines how AI is being deployed to support entrepreneurship teaching in UoTs and identifying the associated pedagogical opportunities and institutional challenges. Drawing on a robust methodology, the review analyzed 124 academic publications between 2017 and 2024. Data was extracted from major academic databases, including Scopus, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, and synthesized using bibliometric mapping tools (Biblioshiny and VOSviewer) alongside thematic content analysis. The review uncovered a rapidly expanding but fragmented body of research, with key themes centered on AI-enabled experiential learning, student engagement, personalized feedback, and curriculum adaptation. However, significant challenges persist, including infrastructural limitations, a lack of faculty preparedness, and insufficient institutional strategies to scale AI integration meaningfully across UoTs. The data reveals AI’s massive ability to drive innovation to enrich entrepreneurship education through experiential learning frameworks, particularly when guided by theories such as Experiential Learning Theory (ELT). Yet, for UoTs to fully realize this potential, a more cohesive approach is required one that aligns policy, practice, and professional development with context-specific needs. This review offers strategic insights for educators, institutional leaders, and policymakers aiming to position South African UoTs at the forefront of AI-driven, innovation-led business education.