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Universities’ third mission and the entrepreneurial university and the challenges they bring to higher education institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Arthur Rubens
  • Francesca Spigarelli
  • Alessio Cavicchi
  • Chiara Rinaldi

Abstract

Purpose - Over the past few decades, higher education institutions (HEIs) have become key players in regional economic development and knowledge transfer, which has led to a third mission for HEIs and the entrepreneurial university. The purpose of this paper is to assess the challenges of HEIs in fulfilling the third mission for economic development and the changing role of being an entrepreneurial university, and the changes that need to be implemented to fulfill this new mission. Design/methodology/approach - The authors have drawn on current literature to examine academic entrepreneurism and the entrepreneurial university, and how universities are fulfilling their third mission. Findings - The findings from our review of the literature demonstrated the varied economic and social benefit of universities conducting external third mission/entrepreneurial activities in the community, as well as how the changing role and expectations of universities to become more entrepreneurial, has not only changed the expectations and role of university administrators, faculty and staff but also the business community which they serve. The review also showed the varied challenges for universities in fulfilling the third mission of economic development. Research limitations/implications - Although ample literature and cases about universities’ third mission of economic development and the new entrepreneurial university (especially with research universities) were available, literature or research was limited on the specific challenges and obstacles faced by administrators, faculty and departments in fulfilling this mission, and few studies recommended changes that needed to be implemented in HEIs to support this new mission. Practical/implications - The paper supports the potential role that HEIs play in implementing economic development in their communities or region. The paper also highlights some of the necessary resources and policy changes that policymakers and university administrators need to implement to reward and recognize faculty in conducting outreach activities as part of the university’s third mission. Originality/value - The findings from this study highlight the challenges and barriers for faculty, staff and HEIs in fulfilling the third mission and becoming an entrepreneurial university.

Suggested Citation

  • Arthur Rubens & Francesca Spigarelli & Alessio Cavicchi & Chiara Rinaldi, 2017. "Universities’ third mission and the entrepreneurial university and the challenges they bring to higher education institutions," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(03), pages 354-372, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:jecpps:jec-01-2017-0006
    DOI: 10.1108/JEC-01-2017-0006
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Diana Rokita-Poskart & Łukasz Mach, 2019. "Selected Meso-Economic Consequences of the Changing Number of Students in Academic Towns and Cities (A Case Study of Poland)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Fieras Alfawaire & Tarik Atan, 2021. "The Effect of Strategic Human Resource and Knowledge Management on Sustainable Competitive Advantages at Jordanian Universities: The Mediating Role of Organizational Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-35, July.
    3. Diana-Manuela LINA, 2019. "The Role Of Universities In Regional Innovation Systems. One-Step Further In Assuming The Third Mission?," EURINT, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 6, pages 288-310.
    4. Taouaf, Ilham & Elyoussoufi Attou, Omar & El Ganich, Said & Arouch, Moha, 2021. "The Technology Transfer Office (TTO): Toward a Viable Model for Universities in Morocco," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    5. Fernando Almeida, 2021. "Systematic Review On Academic Entrepreneurship Indicators," Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics, SOUTH-WEST UNIVERSITY "NEOFIT RILSKI", BLAGOEVGRAD, vol. 9(2), pages 7-22.
    6. Gabriel Brătucu & Radu Constantin Lixăndroiu & Cristinel Petrișor Constantin & Alina Simona Tecău & Ioana Bianca Chițu & Adrian Trifan, 2020. "Entrepreneurial University: Catalyst for Regional Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Lorenzo Compagnucci & Francesca Spigarelli & Paolo Passarini & Concetta Ferrara & Chiara Aleffi & Sabrina Tomasi, 2018. "Promotion of local development and innovation by a social sciences and humanities based university: the case of the University of Macerata," AGRICOLTURA ISTITUZIONI MERCATI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(2), pages 77-107.
    8. Ozen, Cagla & Owaishiz, Abdalilah & Dabic, Marina & Daim, Tugrul, 2023. "Exploring entrepreneurship in the academic environment," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Roncancio-Marin, Jason & Dentchev, Nikolay & Guerrero, Maribel & Díaz-González, Abel & Crispeels, Thomas, 2022. "University-Industry joint undertakings with high societal impact: A micro-processes approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    10. Toprak Metin & Bayraktar Yüksel & Erdoğan Armağan & Kolat Deniz & Şengül Mehmet, 2019. "Developing a Tool for Quality and Accreditation of a New Generation University in the Digitalized Society: The Case of a Thematic-Technical University," Economics, Sciendo, vol. 7(2), pages 69-89, December.
    11. Charlene L. Nicholls-Nixon & Dave Valliere & Steven A. Gedeon & Sean Wise, 2021. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and the lifecycle of university business incubators: An integrative case study," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 809-837, June.
    12. E.V. Balatsky & N.A. Ekimova & M.A. Yurevich, 2021. "New Tools for Increasing the Practice-Orientedness of Russian Universities: The Market for Checklists," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 20(4), pages 620-640.
    13. Maxim A. Yurevich, 2022. "Factors of Growth in Income from Research Activities in Universities of the Russian Federation," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 21(4), pages 795-817.
    14. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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