Creativity, Motivation, and Social Impact: Exploring Social Innovation at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan

Abstract

This study investigates the interplay of university support, creativity, and intrinsic motivation in fostering social innovation among students at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. Utilizing a quantitative research design, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 309 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between university support, creativity, motivation, and social innovation engagement. Findings reveal that university support and creativity significantly enhance students’ intrinsic motivation, which in turn strongly predicts their engagement in social innovation. Motivation fully mediates the relationship between both university support and creativity and social innovation outcomes. These results underscore the critical role of institutional resources and creative environments in cultivating motivated students who actively contribute to societal change. The study offers insights into developing university policies that foster innovative and sustainable learning ecosystems.