Journal Article

PhD Students in the Entrepreneurial University - Perceived Support for Academic Entrepreneurship

Bienkowska, Dzamila, Klofsten, Magnus, Rasmussen, Einar

2016

Overview

Universities are currently in the process of change and adaptation to shifting expectations that for example include closer engagement with businesses and increased facilitation of entrepreneurship among faculty and graduates. By supporting academic entrepreneurship, universities can address these expectations whilst also becoming more entrepreneurial institutions. However, more knowledge is needed on how this support provided by different levels in the university organisation is perceived by academics. This is particularly relevant in the case of PhD students because many of them will go on to become the next generation of senior faculty and because PhD education constitutes a considerable part of most universities' activities with PhD students performing a large share of university research. Our study is based on survey responses of 464 PhD students from all faculties at one of the biggest universities in Sweden. The results show that the perceived support of commercialisation of research results varies at different hierarchical levels within the university. The score for perceived support from the highest level (central administration) did not differ much between the faculties, while significant differences were found at lower levels. We argue that variations between faculties and departments with regard to norms and cultures should be considered when stimulating entrepreneurial engagement, for example by using multiple channels of communication, as well as tailor-made strategies and activities. (HoF/text adopted).

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley (Variant),Wiley-Blackwell
• Subject: Academic entrepreneurship / Business education / Collaboration / College Administration / College Faculty / College Graduates / College professors / College students / Colleges & universities / Commercialisation of research / Commercialization / Companies / Departments / Doctoral Programs / Doctoral Students / Doktorand / Educational Change / Entrepreneurial university / Entrepreneurship / Expectations / Facilitation / Foreign Countries / Graduate Students / Graduate studies / Institutional Research / Part I: Thought Pieces / PhD education / Promotionsstudium / Research Universities / Responses / School Business Relationship / Scores / Student Attitudes / Student Surveys / Sweden / Undergraduate students / Universities / University-industry networks / Universität / Unternehmer / Unterstützung