NECESSITY AND ECONOMIC ESSENCE OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY


Smirnova S.B.

In a knowledge-based society, universities are increasingly seen as initiators of local development, as they can play a key role not only in the production of knowledge, but also in its dissemination and use for commercial purposes. However, universities ` commitment to economic and social progress should not be limited to capitalizing on knowledge, since universities can act as local agents that must build entrepreneurial capital by promoting entrepreneurial thinking, actions, and institutions. This factor is considered even more important, since the availability of entrepreneurial opportunities can affect local development to a greater extent than, for example, the availability of natural or financial resources. Thus, the new mission of the entrepreneurial university should be aimed at promoting social development and economic growth, going beyond the traditional tasks of research and teaching. The number of studies of entrepreneurial universities has steadily increased over the years, but scientists agree that if a university is to be developed in the direction of an entrepreneurial model, it must radically change its strategy. Without a clearly defined strategy, a university cannot make a contribution that is relevant to the goals of society and the economy. The paper analyzes the development of the concept of an entrepreneurial university in Russia and abroad, and provides additions to the concept that involve students in the activities of a university of this type. We also offer a set of characteristics that allow us to evaluate the university’s activity in terms of business activity. Keywords:entrepreneurial university, knowledge economy, innovation, academic model, commercialization of research, educational organization, online programs, technologies. Highlights: ♦ the new mission of the university should be aimed at promoting social development and economic growth, going beyond the traditional tasks of research and teaching; ♦ most universities are at the stage of transition from the Humboldt model (second generation) to the entrepreneurial university model; ♦ definitions of the concept of “entrepreneurial university" are plentiful, and there is no agreement on a comprehensive model of what it is exactly; ♦ the author offers a set of characteristics that allows us to assess the entrepreneurial activity of the university in order to build activities on the way to becoming a third-generation university.

Svetlana B. Smirnova, Applicant of the Samara State University of Economics.


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