Entrepreneurial University: Faculty’s Previous Work Experience Predicting the Perceptions of Inadequate Link with Industry

Abstract

The perceptions toward the barriers for universities becoming entrepreneurial are important to address. Investigating the relationships between the factors that lead to these perceptions helps understand and plan well for universities to become entrepreneurial. Studying the previous faculty work experience helps us examine the perception of inadequate link with industry as a barrier. This study uses data from a study conducted to examine the university environment and culture toward entrepreneurial university in a certain Croatian university. We aim to explore the relationship between the faculty’s previous work experience and the perception of inadequate link with industry as a barrier for universities becoming entrepreneurial. This research provides a useful contribution to the literature, as it attempts to identify that relationship considering the impact of various factors. We found that there is less perception of inadequate link with industry as a barrier for faculty members who have experience in the private sector. The participation in a technology project, the perception of offering entrepreneurship courses for staff is a requirement for universities to become entrepreneurial, and the faculty’s suitability to create their income factors are not explaining the relationship.