Improving Black Entrepreneurship through Cannabis-Related Education
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsWhile the article is intriguing and raises a new and original issue, it fails to reference or integrate some of the most recognized theories or models of entrepreneurship education. These theories typically provide a conceptual framework for understanding how entrepreneurship education programs can influence entrepreneurial behavior, attitudes, and outcomes. The relationship between Entep Educ and Entrep Intention is the theory you should include in your paper. The absence of such foundational theories hinders the paper's ability to provide a clear conceptual basis for its claims.
I suggest to revive the following authors about the impact of EE and its relationship with the Entrepreneurial Intentions:
Krueger, N. F., & Carsrud, A. L. (1993). Entrepreneurial intentions: Applying the theory of planned behaviour. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 5(4), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985629300000020
Fayolle, A., Gailly, B., & Lassas-Clerc, N. (2006). Assessing the impact of entrepreneurship education programmes: A new methodology. Journal of European Industrial Training. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590610715022
Kyrö, P. (2015). The conceptual contribution of education to research on entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 27(9–10), 599–618. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2015.1085726
Núñez-Canal, M.; Sanz Ponce, R.; Azqueta, A.; Montoro-Fernández, E. How Effective Is Entrepreneurship Education in Schools? An Empirical Study of the New Curriculum in Spain. Educ. Sci. 2023, 13, 740. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070740
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
Dear Editor
The paper entitled ’Improving Black Entrepreneurship through Cannabis-Related Education’ presents experiences that Medgar Evers College (MEC) in New York had when establishing a Cannabis Education Program that is targeted to the minority population of Brooklyn and surrounding boroughs of New York City. This is an interesting case study, which describes the process of developing the new education program, which has a unique target or mission to reduce poverty, improve the economic well-being and provide alternative to unemployment within black communities by the means of entrepreneurship education.
The topic is interesting and unique and the aim of the educational program is important as the economic and social inequities cause lifelong problems for millions of people around the world. It is important to make the entrepreneurship education project’s results visible, when they affect wellbeing of individuals and communities.
The paper starts with the introduction to the problem area i.e. the racial economic and social inequities in U.S. and particularly in this case in Brooklyn, New York. New and a unique entrepreneurship program could be a way to of increasing the new venture creation within Black and other minority communities. The goal is to increase the Black entrepreneurship in the growing Cannabis industry.
The second chapter presents the history, growth and change of Cannabis industry. After that, the authors describe how MEC started to develop the Cannabis Education Progam. The rows 112 to 279, the text is kind of mixture research results, literature review and methodology - and actually this article is completely lacking research methodology. But there is a problem presented, namely: The Racial wealth inequality (rows 23-29), and also the possible solution for the problem is mentioned, namely on rows 55-59 .
I do not think that the paper needs any big changes major content revision, but I think that some clarifications, organization of the text and reconstruction of the article’s structure could make the article more professional – now the literature, different surveys and studies are mixed together. Maybe following the traditional structure e.g. introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions of journal article makes the editing easier.
I would recommend the authors to consider whether this research could be based on constructive approach and the method could be an action research. Defining research methodology would also help to improve the structure of the article. his text below but I mean that you could start editing the structure of the paper by considering this kind of process:
1. Detecting the problem (Diagnosis) – practically relevant problem i.e. The Racial wealth inequality (in Brooklyn area)
2. Obtain a general and comprehensive understanding of the topic:
– literature review:
– Improving new venture creation rates within Black communities
- cannabis industry – growing industry
- entrepreneurship education -> self-efficacy; action based experiental learning, problem based, practical based
- project based on research: entrepreneurship + public health + policy
- etc.
3. Research: - MEC assessed the needs of Cannabis industry and market to gain an understanding of gaps and opportunities (more than 100 industry leaders from 69 different cannabis related organisations
- MEC surveyed 144 prospective cannabis students
4. Innovate, i.e., construct a solution idea.
- race-conscious entrepreneurship education programs -> MEC’s Cannabis Education program Fall 2021
5. Demonstrate that the solution works.
-> data collected from 157 students that enrolled to MEC (rows 184-214)
-> Results that the students gained (e.g. rows 229-242)
6. Show the theoretical connections and the research contribution of the solution concept -> rows 215-228
7. Reflecting on the effects of the change (evaluation): rows 276-279
8. Examine the scope of applicability of the solution ... rows 357-359
9. Redesign … rows 353-356
I hope that my comments and recommendations helps you in finalising your article!
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsSome adaptations to the new theories and educational content that has been added must be included in the text.
The article has improved and the recommendation of the revisions are mostly included.
Conclusions and discussion must be more precise and contributions must be highlighted
Comments on the Quality of English Language. Some editing errors in the English should be corrected
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
