Beyond Precarious Hustling: An AI-Oriented Curriculum Framework for Sustainable Creative Entrepreneurship in the Global South

Abstract

Creative economies worldwide are recognized as vital engines for inclusive growth, job creation, and cultural innovation. Yet, in the Global South, creative entrepreneurs operate within ecosystems marked by persistent precarity: informal employment, limited access to capital, weak infrastructure, and educational systems misaligned with digital realities. While generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents transformative potential for creative production and entrepreneurship, its benefits risk exacerbating existing inequalities without intentional educational scaffolding. This paper synthesizes research from Ghana, alongside broader scholarship on creative work in emerging economies, to argue that the transition from precarious hustling to sustainable creative entrepreneurship requires a fundamental reimagining of education. We propose a globally relevant yet context-sensitive framework for an AI-oriented curriculum. This framework moves beyond technical skill acquisition to integrate critical GenAI literacy, humane-oriented entrepreneurial mindsets, and an understanding of the political economy of creative work. Designed for adaptability across diverse Southern contexts, the framework emphasizes glocalization—the fusion of global technological competencies with local cultural knowledge and economic conditions. It positions education not as a peripheral support, but as the central infrastructure needed to convert creative potential into dignified labour, resilient enterprises, and equitable participation in the global digital economy. The paper concludes with strategic implementation principles for educators, policymakers, and international development partners.

Keywords: Creative Entrepreneurship, Global South, Artificial Intelligence, Curriculum Design, Precarity, Digital Divide, Informal Economy, Glocalization.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008011