The social capital concept is a broad area investigated by researchers in numerous academic disciplines, including business, education, entrepreneurship, economics, sociology, human resource management, political science, environmental and health sciences, and political and social sciences. Progress in a wide range of fields, including business and management, health and education, economic development, entrepreneurship development, community development, and public policy, is found to be influenced by social capital.
P.A Buddhini Amarathunga
Social capital is a combination of resources or a combination of shared values that allow individuals to work together in a group environment to achieve a common objective. Because humans are social beings, voluntary associations like this offer value to their members over time that would be impossible for a person to accomplish on their own. Accordingly, a network of interactions built by a collection of people that enables information exchange boosts productivity, expands the pool of resources, and facilitates goal attainment, which is social capital.
Social capital is a multidisciplinary concept that benefits students, education and higher educational institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs, governments, policymakers, and the general public. The generation of social capital has been brought about progressively by society’s greater adoption and rapid development of contemporary technologies. Society is undergoing the fifth sociological revolution, also known as Society 5.0. To create a human-centred, super-smart society utilising robotics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 5G, and big data, Society 5.0 converts two categories of relationships: the relationship between society and technological advances and the relationship between people and their society using technology. Therefore, the creation of social capital has been facilitated by current revolutionary telecommunication technology and various social and professional networking platforms.
To succeed in today’s competitive academic and professional environment, higher education students must be more than simply outstanding marks. Social capital is one of the most significant but often overlooked resources. It is a web of contacts, connections, and support systems that may open doors, enhance educational possibilities, and foster professional and personal growth.Moreover, social capital is crucial for higher education students as it influences their academic success, career opportunities, and overall well-being.
The key benefits of social capital for students are access to resources and information: students with substantial social capital have access to resources, information, and networks that can help them navigate their educational journey, academic support and collaboration:building strong social connections with peers, professors, and mentors enables students to exchange knowledge, share study resources, and collaborate on projects, leading to improved academic performance: networking with alumni, industry professionals, and faculty members can provide students with internship placements, job referrals, and career guidance, making the transition from education to employment much smoother, development of soft skills: interacting with diverse groups enhances communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills—qualities that employers highly value, access to exclusive opportunities: many scholarships, research opportunities, and leadership programs are accessible through social networks, giving well-connected students a competitive edge, and mental health and well-being: strong social connections can help students cope with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues, promoting their overall well-being.
Methodology of the Study: The current study was designed as a Systematic Literature Review and bibliometric analysis. Articles were extracted from the Scopus database, and both Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software were utilisedfor advanced scientific mapping and visualisations via quantitative and qualitative analysis approaches.
Students can access a range of academic, professional, and personal advantages by actively building their social capital and positioning themselves for long-term success in university and beyond. Educational institutions may establish a warm and collaborative context that positions students for success by implementing social capital promotion initiatives. Accordingly, increasing social capital among higher education students is essential for fostering collaboration, support networks, and a sense of community. Here are several effective strategies to enhance social capital in this context: promote group work and collaborative learning. Students need to be encouraged to collaborate on academic work and projects. Students develop relationships as they exchange ideas and experiences and improve their academic performance through networking events and workshops: organise career fairs, networking events, and workshops where students can interact with alums, industry professionals, and peers. This helps students build professional relationships and gain insights into various fields, student organisations and clubs: support forming student clubs and organisations that align with multiple interests (cultural, professional, recreational, etc.), mentorship programs, and peer mentoring programs where senior students can mentor newcomers. This enhances academic success and creates a sense of belonging and community; interdisciplinary projectsencourage interdisciplinary collaborations between different departments or fields of study. This broadens perspectives and helps students develop diverse relationships, community service, and volunteering. It also helps them organise community service projects that allow students to work together for a common cause. This cultivates teamwork and strengthens bonds among participants; culturalexchange programsPromote diversity by encouraging cultural exchange programs, international student integration, and events celebrating different cultures. This enriches the social fabric of the institution, social media and online platforms: utilise social media and online platforms to create virtual communities for students, allowing them to connect, share experiences, and collaborate on projects outside of traditional settings, guest speakers and panel discussions: invite guest speakers to share their experiences and insights. This can provide networking opportunities and stimulate discussions among students with similar interests; skilldevelopment workshops:offer workshops focused on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution, and alumengagement:foster connections between current students and alums through mentorship opportunities, networking events, and guest lectures. Alums can serve as valuable resources and connections in various industries.
Higher education institutions and policymakers have distinct yet complementary responsibilities in fostering social capital among students, including promoting networking and mentorship programs, encouraging student engagement and extracurricular activities, strengthening community and industry partnerships, developing policies that support student networking and career readiness, funding and supporting inclusive education initiatives, promoting digital and technological access, and monitoring and evaluating institutional efforts. Accordingly, higher education institutions and legislators may foster an atmosphere where students can create deep connections, obtain employment opportunities, and contribute to society by collaborating.
Implementing these tactics may help higher education institutions foster an atmosphere that develops social capital, which will eventually help students both academically and personally. Social capital, which refers to community networks, relationships, and norms that facilitate collaboration and cooperation, significantly boosts student success in higher education.
Accordingly, students with substantial social capital are more likely to excel academically, persist in their programs, and achieve their educational goals.
This article is based on my research, “Mapping Social Capital and Unveiling Emerging Trends through Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis,” which was published in the Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (ISSN: 2279-3933). DOI: 10.4038/jsshr.v9i3.134.
By P.A BuddhiniAmarathunga
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Business Management,
Faculty of Business Studies and Finance,
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka,
Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka.
