Abstract
Today, the role of universities has changed and universities are not being only seen as creators and transmitters of knowledge but also as institutions that give innovative answers to economic and social challenges of society. The entrepreneurial university model is referred to many as the “Ideal state” of a university in responding efficiently and effectively to challenges and opportunities and being able to be competitive in today’s environment of universities by fulfilling the university’s “third mission”. Even though many definitions exist for the concept of an entrepreneurial university, an overall common definition is lacking due to the fact that each institution follows a unique transformation path which is influenced by various economic and social factors of the environment they operate. The goal of this paper is to contribute to the understating of the above mentioned definition of an entrepreneurial university, how this concept is viewed in public higher education institutions in Albania and to identify which are the most important factors that might facilitate or serve as barriers for Higher Education Institutions (HEI-s) that might want to move towards this institutional approach. A questionnaire was distributed to academics in 5 higher public institutions in Albania and received 372 responses. An empirical study was conducted to contribute to the literature on the entrepreneurial university aspects with a specific focus on Albanian Higher Education Institutions. The results show that even in Albania, a common accepted definition is lacking. Factors such as cooperation with the private sector, appropriate reward systems, presence of role models and flexible structures are among the most important facilitators. While a lack of funding and inadequate links with the private sector are seen as the greatest barriers for public HEIs in Albania in becoming entrepreneurial institutions.
Highlights
Today, role of universities has changed and universities are not being only seen as creators and transmitters of knowledge and as institutions that give innovative answers to the economic and social challenges of society
Higher Education Institutions (HEI-s) are faced with various challenges such as: massification and wider access to disadvantaged students to higher education, wider access to research results, student and staff mobility, restriction of public funds, enhancement of graduate employment, closer links with the private sector and industry, how they are encouraging the creation of new firms and innovation in existing firms, how they are contributing to local and regional development, etc
A perspective of Albanian HEIs on definition on an Entrepreneurial University: Figure 1 shows the results of how academics and researchers in Albania see the definition of the entrepreneurial university
Summary
Role of universities has changed and universities are not being only seen as creators and transmitters of knowledge and as institutions that give innovative answers to the economic and social challenges of society. How universities respond to these challenges is being judged by the society and sometimes they are subjected to pressures from various actors Beside their missions of teaching and conducting research, universities are undergoing to what is being called a second revolution, and are adding as part of their mission the generation of social and economic values for their societies. Universities are being encouraged to find innovative solutions to face the challenges, pressures and trends in Higher Education These innovative solutions are implying structural and administrative changes for HEIs. These innovative solutions are implying structural and administrative changes for HEIs Apart from this an entrepreneurial culture is needed to be encouraged and developed inside the organization among its internal stakeholders (student and staff). Research results (product and services) can be transferred outside the university through TTO-s (Technology Transfer Offices) and by commercializing their research results universities can increase their financial incomes
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