The Entrepreneurial University: Conceptualisation, Models and Challenges for Operationalisation of the Concept

Abstract

There is a growing global need for entrepreneurs from technological, social, cultural and economic backgrounds to launch new ventures and engage in innovative business activities. Significant challenges in economy and society, industrial development 4.0 and international cooperation pathways have all shed new light and made new demands on higher education systems across the world. Universities need to ensure new ways of learning and teaching, greater practical usefulness of scientific research findings and cooperate widely with the entrepreneurial ecosystem to be able to renew their curricula and practices for boosting employability and to improve career opportunities for academic graduates. The explorative qualitative study focuses on the university-based entrepreneurial activities and the business ecosystem. The purpose of the study is to review the approaches of scholars and present a discussion on the theoretical framework concerning the Entrepreneurial University. It is an attempt to adapt existing models and bring new factors together with current reflections on this phenomenon. The contribution of the author consists of developing a framework of preconditions – endo- and exogenous factors within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and micro- and macroeconomic environment – necessary to transform a traditional university into an entrepreneurial one. Building and sustaining business-science relationships with key partners, stakeholders and collaborators seems to be essential in achieving the full potential of an Entrepreneurial University in research, teaching and entrepreneurship mission activities. The author identifies the limitations, ambiguities and difficulties with the operationalisation of significant factors, variables and their measurement. The nature of the study is descriptive, and the methods used in this objective are a critical review of the subject literature, defining, comparing, analysis, reflection, and inference. The paper concludes with recommendations and directions for an in-depth empirical research. In order to obtain a deeper insight into the research problem the future investigation will focus on the identification of critical factors related to the transformation process into an Entrepreneurial University using multiple case studies. Although the concept has received considerable attention over the last years, further comparative studies of the practical aspects of its implementation and impact are expected to create a coherent and widely recognized conceptual and measurement apparatus.