University Ecosystem Research Articles

Sustainability Practices Among Accounting Students: a Study of SDG Implementation at Universitas Padjadjaran

Objective: This study explores how sustainable lifestyles are cultivated among accounting students and examines the role of the university ecosystem in supporting this behavior. It focuses on the relationship between students' understanding of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their perceptions of university sustainable governance. Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in sustainable education and governance, emphasizing the university’s role in fostering sustainability through curriculum design and institutional policies. The SDGs are used as a benchmark to evaluate students' awareness and engagement. Method: Data were collected from 88 undergraduate accounting students at Padjadjaran University, Indonesia, via an online survey. Mann-Whitney U-test non-parametric tests were used to identify significant differences in sustainable behaviors across student groups, and multiple regression analysis explored the relationship between sustainable lifestyles, SDG knowledge, and perceptions of university governance. Results and Discussion: The findings show that students have a limited understanding of the SDGs, likely due to a lack of sustainability-focused activities. Their perception of the university’s sustainable governance is moderate, and students have not fully embraced sustainable practices. However, higher SDG knowledge and positive views on governance are associated with more sustainable behaviors. Research Implications: The study highlights the need for integrating SDG-related content into university curricula and improving governance to foster sustainable lifestyle habits. Originality/Value: This research provides empirical evidence on how universities can shape sustainable behaviors, focusing on accounting students in Indonesia.

Оцінка соціально-економічного потенціалу Дніпропетровщини: умови створення технічного освітньо-наукового кластеру

The article highlights the concept of a «Technical Educational and Scientific Cluster» (TESC). It is established that its structural foundation is based on a developed university ecosystem, which includes participants in the educational process, infrastructure facilities, and structural units – scientific and educational institutes, colleges, lyceums, incubators, and technoparks, which interact with each other creating a unique synergy aimed at the innovative development of a particular region and industries, such as: engineering, aerospace, transport, chemical, metallurgical, construction, etc. It is determined that the integration of the cluster into the region's economy involves the development of cooperation not only between educational institutions and enterprises but also with local authorities, business associations, and investors, which influence the formation of the region's socioeconomic potential (SEP) and ensure the creation of a favorable environment for the development and implementation of new technologies in production. This contributes to the development of the region's economy, increasing its competitiveness on the global market of goods and services. Emphasis is placed on the university, which plays a key, integrating role and is the core of the cluster, uniting various elements of the ecosystem and ensuring their effective interaction and has a direct and profound impact on the region's SEP. In fact, it becomes an innovative center of the region, not only generating new knowledge and training highly qualified personnel but also creating a powerful synergistic effect by cooperating with businesses. Such a tandem contributes to the rapid commercialization of scientific developments, the birth of new technological startups, and, as a result, the growth of the region's economic potential. At the same time, by involving students in scientific research and entrepreneurial projects, it forms an innovative culture, increases social mobility, and contributes to improving the quality of life of residents, increasing the investment attractiveness of Dnipropetrovsk region, and forming a stable position to changes in the economy. It is emphasized that the development of TESC is impossible without taking into account the specifics of the region's SEP. Constant monitoring of such factors as the level of education, the innovative activity of enterprises, and the investment climate allows adjusting the cluster's development strategy and ensuring its compliance with the needs of the region

The Influence of Emotional Competencies on the Entrepreneurship Intentions of University Students in Colombia

The main objective of this article is to analyze the effect of a group of predictors on entrepreneurial intention from the perspective of emotional competencies. To achieve this aim, a sample of 996 students belonging to ten public and seven private universities was selected, with each university having been granted high-quality accreditation by the Colombian Ministry of Education. The theoretical approach was based on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the empirical analysis was based on structural equation models. Eight hypotheses were tested, with entrepreneurial intention as the dependent variable and emotional competencies, subjective norms, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial attitude as independent variables. The information was obtained by applying a questionnaire with a Likert scale to students of subjects related to entrepreneurship. From the findings of the study, it is concluded that in the two ecosystems analyzed (public and private), emotional competencies (EC) have neither a direct influence on entrepreneurial intention (EI) nor an indirect one since no significant influence is observed between emotional competencies and entrepreneurial attitude; however, a direct and positive effect was recorded between the self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude constructs on entrepreneurial intention. In addition, it is observed that subjective norms (SN) do not directly affect EI, but they do influence it indirectly, being mediated by entrepreneurial attitude and self-efficacy. The contribution of this study is focused on obtaining a better understanding of the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Colombia, which will make it possible to foster strategies for the generation of youth employment and public policies to promote various entrepreneurial initiatives. This could be based on government regulations adopted in the last decade, which are still under development, and the broad participation of university students and research groups of higher education institutions. Furthermore, given the dearth of research examining the impact of emotional competencies on the entrepreneurial intentions of young Colombian university students, this study aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap, thereby contributing to the development of a more robust body of literature that can inform the design and implementation of educational strategies and public policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurship within the university ecosystems of this country.

Integrating historical approaches of university ecosystems: reviewing the literature streams and future directions

AbstractIt is practically consensual that universities contribute to economic and social growth; therefore, they nowadays need to play a more active role in answering the changing needs of society. In addition, universities hold the potential to promote regional innovation through their influence over the ecosystems they participate in. This article aims to identify, analyse and integrate the historical approaches of university ecosystems and university roles through a systematic literature review. The findings identify four different periods: (i) University-Industry collaboration (until 2000); (ii) changing the university model into a triple-helix model (2001–2010); (iii) from the triple to the quadruple-helix model in the knowledge society (2011–2020); and (iv) ecosystem complexity and the Neo Triple-Helix Model (from 2021). The study contributes to the literature on universities and the ecosystem by providing a unified perspective on the importance of the university’s role in the economic and social growth of the knowledge business and the evolution of the ecosystem. These results provide an overview of the trends in university ecosystems, including an integrative framework, research themes, and research questions able to guide future studies.

A micro and meso analysis of the role of principal investigators in entrepreneurial university ecosystems

This study investigates the Principal Investigator's (PI's) role in enhancing Technology Transfer (TT) culture within a University Ecosystem (UE). We propose an approach for diagnosing TT culture within a UE at the micro- and meso-levels. The approach employs a survey to assess the UE's maturity regarding the core competencies of a PI. The approach: (i) assesses UE's maturity and categorises its researchers regarding the PI's core competencies, (ii) assesses researchers' resources and capabilities, and (iii) assesses the UE's TT culture. We applied the proposed approach to a large Brazilian university for testing and validation. The findings offer a comprehensive overview of UE's TT culture and highlight the PI's pivotal role in establishing a robust UE. As a contribution, we offer a practical approach to diagnosing a university ecosystem's TT culture through micro and meso-level analysis, advancing research on PI's role in aligning a UE to the Entrepreneurial University (EU) concept.

Особливості професійної підготовки вчителів зі SТЕМ-освіти в умовах екосистеми університету засобами цифрових технологій

Особливості професійної підготовки вчителів зі SТЕМ-освіти в умовах екосистеми університету засобами цифрових технологій

Review and Development of Innopreneurship Model to Enhance the University Ecosystem

This paper aims to study the initiatives taken by the private Universities through business Incubation centers for the development and promotion of Innovation and entrepreneurship. It also studies the linkages among University Incubation centers, young innovators, Industry and investors for ecosystem development. Traditional universities role has gradually evolved and changed now to redirect the new knowledge system for nation’s economic development through University Incubation centers. A model has been developed that illustrates how University Incubation center is functioning for the wellbeing of Society, Nation’s economy and youth employment. Current research paper is dealing various elements in understanding and analyzing the changing dynamics of University system in nurturing business Incubation and innovations through various initiatives and platform of developments. The Result shows that university provides a sound platform for young entrepreneurs for start-up’s with their innovative ideas and to help in startups at various levels. The model based innopreneurship framework will help to enhance university ecosystem and its functioning through Innovation and Entrepreneurial goals. Key words: Innovation, Incubation center, Entrepreneurship, Qualitative research. etc.

Study on Talent Cultivation Management Model of Universities Based on Fuzzy Neural Network Algorithm

The Talent Cultivation Management Model for Universities represents a strategic framework designed to optimize the development and oversight of academic programs. This model focuses on identifying, nurturing, and assessing talents within the university ecosystem. It incorporates innovative methodologies to align educational offerings with individual needs and career goals. This study presents an innovative approach to developing a talent cultivation management model for universities, leveraging the integration of the Fuzzy Neural Network Algorithm with the proposed Optimized Spider Monkey Fuzzy Neural Network (OSMF-NN). Recognizing the critical importance of talent development in higher education, this research seeks to enhance the efficacy and adaptability of existing management models. The OSMF-NN algorithm, inspired by the optimization capabilities of spider monkey behavior, enhances the traditional fuzzy neural network algorithm, enabling more precise and efficient talent management. By harnessing the synergies between fuzzy logic and neural networks, the proposed model offers a robust framework for identifying, nurturing, and evaluating talents within the university ecosystem. Through comprehensive experimentation and validation, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the OSMF-NN algorithm in optimizing talent cultivation strategies, promoting personalized learning experiences, and fostering student success in higher education institutions.

Exploring Academic Mobility Experiences of Russian University Faculty Members

The paper outlines findings of an exploratory research that investigates international academic mobility experiences of faculty members in Russian universities as part of higher education institutions’ internationalization efforts. The study aims to get an in-depth understanding of academic staff’s motivation, personal expectations and the perceived outcomes of the mobility experience, as well as its influence on teaching and research activities after the mobility period. The study refers to the university context as an ecosystem and discovers the relations between the system levels as a meaningful part of the faculty mobility experience. Ten faculty members employed in different Russian universities were interviewed about their experience of academic mobility abroad. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study allowed to identify and examine 3 dimensions of academic mobility in the Russian context from the perspective of university faculty: (1) personal motivation and benefits of the participating faculty members on the microlevel of the university ecosystem; (2) institutional support and barriers that occur during the preparation and mobility process that reflect the interactions between the micro- and meso-levels of the ecosystem; (3) effects of completed academic mobility on further professional performance of the faculty members, both research and teaching.

The Crisis in Foundational Studies and the Necessity of a Liberal Arts and Sciences College(LASC)

This paper addresses the inherent contradiction in universities since their inception, which involves the harmonization of discourse between liberal arts and specialized education and the creation of intellectuals with a blend of both general and specialized knowledge. Instead of resorting to traditional liberal arts approaches, this paper proposes a solution to the crisis in foundational studies from the perspective of creating a new paradigm known as “New Liberal Arts,” overcoming the internal contradictions fundamentally present in universities. Alongside this perspective, this paper reexamines the importance of foundational studies in today's context, taking into consideration the current crisis in Korean universities. It acknowledges the harsh reality of university restructuring and seeks practical approaches that account for the interdependence between universities and businesses, proposing a university reform framework. The paper suggests the establishment of a liberal arts and sciences college (LASC) as a realistic solution to reconstruct the university ecosystem within a society. Within this academic structure, this paper outlines a three-stage curriculum involving the classical liberal arts, foundational convergence education curriculum, and New Liberal Arts.

Three steps for universities to become entrepreneurial: a case study of entrepreneurial process and dynamic capabilities

Entrepreneurial universities play a crucial role in supporting regional economy and addressing social challenges. Despite the significant contributions in the entrepreneurial university literature, little is still known about the process of entrepreneurial idea development, validation and commercialisation within the university. Inspired by this gap in the knowledge transfer literature we draw on three pillars of entrepreneurial university–teaching, research and commercialisation and explain how entrepreneurial process set up to nurture entrepreneurial opportunities within university develops dynamic capabilities that shape product commercialisation at university. We use the case study of the Henley Centre of Entrepreneurship at University of Reading in the United Kingdom, secondary data sources and sixteen interviews with university ecosystem stakeholders to explain the role of dynamic capabilities in entrepreneurial process for university to become entrepreneurial. The process which describes the entrepreneurs journey comprises five stages could become part of entrepreneurial university curricular and embedding university practices into regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

UNIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM, ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS

Entrepreneurship is seen an important driver of economic growth. Engaging in entrepreneurship begins with having a strong intention to become an entrepreneur. This study explored the influence of University Ecosystem and Entrepreneurial Characteristics on Entrepreneurial Intention. A descriptive correlational and causal research design was conducted among 336 business education students. A stratified random sampling technique was employed and utilized Pearson correlation statistics to establish the relationship on the independent and dependent variables. Results showed that business education students rated themselves high in University Ecosystem and Entrepreneurial Characteristics. Entrepreneurial Intention is also found high among business education students where majority intend to start business after graduation and after 5 years. A positive relationship was observed between variables. Further, a logistics linear regression confirmed that University Ecosystem and Entrepreneurial Characteristics has an influence on Entrepreneurial Intention. Universities with business education courses must incorporate entrepreneurship program activities that would showcase student’s entrepreneurial skills and characteristics.

A Conceptual Paper in Developing Model of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems to Boost Graduate Entrepreneurs Through Longitudinal Study

High unemployment among university graduates in Malaysia is concerning. Factors contributing to the university ecosystem that support the creation of student and graduate entrepreneurs remain debatable. The OCDC Entrepreneurial Ecosystems framework is the reference for most universities, and evaluating the weaknesses and strengths in the ecosystem pillars at the university level allows for clarity on relevant variables. The main objective of this study is to reconsider the model in the context of Malaysian universities that will enhance student entrepreneurial growth to create jobs and generate income while lowering unemployment and improving GDP. The study will use a longitudinal qualitative multiple-case study approach through a focus group using semi-structured questions with three groups of participants. Samples will be selected using a purposeful random sampling technique. Two top management, three students involved in business while studying, and three entrepreneur alumni from UiTM, UPM, and USM will be interviewed since these universities were awarded the MOHE Entrepreneurial Awards. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis via NVivo software. This study will contribute to implementing an entrepreneurial ecosystem model according to Malaysia's public university setting. Recommendations to the university and MOHE will be provided based on the findings to enhance students’ involvement in entrepreneurship while still at university. The government can improve on appropriate regulations in providing resources and budget based on this research findings so that the university can serve as an ‘incubator’ for driving university students to become job creators.

The entrepreneurial university: strategies, processes, and competing goals

The configuration of the entrepreneurial university remains poorly understood given the complexity of the university as an organisation with multiple missions and multiple ‘products and services’, delivered by multiple and sometimes competing sub-organisations with different cultures and norms, in response to different outside pressures and demands. The outcomes of the entrepreneurial university reflect the plurality of goals, including research, teaching, knowledge commercialisation, and civic and community empowerment, but they are rarely considered within the same conceptual and empirical framework. Hence, the aim of this paper is to explore how multiple and sometimes competing strategies and associated arrangements, resources and capabilities within the entrepreneurial university affect the delivery of economic and social benefits to the external world across teaching, research, knowledge commercialisation, and civic and community empowerment missions. To achieve this aim, we elaborate the entrepreneurial university ecosystem concept so that we can systematically capture the cross-influences of the entrepreneurial university elements in their entirety rather than focussing on selected ecosystem elements and their effects in relation to one particular university mission. Our analysis is based on a novel institution-level database on university strategies, goals, policies, and support mechanisms, providing annual data for all higher education institutions in the UK over the period 2017–2020, complemented with annual administrative data on staff, finances, graduate outcomes, and infrastructure, as well as contextual data on the wider regional entrepreneurship ecosystem. Using a Seemingly Unrelated Estimation approach, we contribute with novel fundings explicitly identifying synergies and tensions between different elements of the entrepreneurial university ecosystem that affect the delivery of its outcomes.

Adaptive, Sociable and Ready for Anything: Undergraduate Students Are Resilient When Faced with Technological Change

Attending university is an important time for many young people's social lives. But changes are afoot with new innovative digital higher-education experiences being built, shifting students' social lives further online. However, it is unclear how a longer-term shift to a digital university ecosystem will impact students and their social relations and how current technologies could amplify their social experience. We report a focus group study investigating the impact of a primarily digital university experience on the social relationships of incoming undergraduates. In line with existing research, we demonstrate how technology-mediated communications can benefit some aspects of students' social relations and less so for others. Our novel contribution is evidence of students' remarkable adaptiveness when facing an online-only university experience. Crucially, our participants identified and utilised the nuances of different online platforms to start and maintain new relationships. This way, they preserved their ability to nurture social relationships, even when dealing with an unexpected learning environment. We provide design recommendations for future metaversities and discuss students' resilience in sustaining personal relationships that can inform online-centric university models.

Designing a University Environment for Inclusive Digital Education – Methods and Approaches

The rapid development and implementation of digital technologies in education and the forced shift to fully distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the existing problems and challenges of access to higher education for disadvantaged students, have brought to the fore the need for systemic change, aimed at building crisis-resilient university ecosystems where inclusive education and digital transformation are considered in their interconnectedness to provide appropriate infrastructures and technologies for inclusive digital learning. Designing such systems requires applying an interdisciplinary design approach with careful consideration of the needs and wants of all user groups and especially those vulnerable to exclusion. The article presents the methodology and results of a study aimed at identifying the needs, barriers and issues faced by students of low socio-economic status, which is part of a wider international initiative to develop university ecosystems for inclusive digital learning, in in which universities from six countries of the European Union participate.

Towards a Model for Entrepreneurial University Ecosystem in the Evolving Higher Education Landscape in Kenya

Towards a Model for Entrepreneurial University Ecosystem in the Evolving Higher Education Landscape in Kenya

Sustainable development Universities-Opportunities & challenges on the road to society 5.0 from the key stakeholder perspective.

There has been a growing push on universities worldwide to demonstrate how their work contributes to the indicators of sustainable development goals. In addition to producing a foundation of human resources to assist the change toward greater sustainability, universities may have a significant influence on individual behaviour. The article's goal is to highlight the potential and difficulties that the surveyed universities face as they work to construct a 5.0 society and pursue sustainable development. It does this by analysing students' perspectives from these universities in ten different nations. A Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) questionnaire was used for the study. The hypotheses about the relationship between the university's legal status and form of ownership and the level of students' awareness of sustainable development were verified. The findings indicated that by promoting sustainable development, the universities under investigation had the opportunity to garner interest and involve students. Nevertheless, this calls for funding, better educational initiatives, and a well-rounded strategy. Furthermore, encouraging a sustainable culture within the university ecosystem and openly sharing these efforts with students and the general public will make universities more visible, respected, and driven, boosting involvement and engagement in sustainability initiatives on campus.

РАЗВИТИЕ СЕТИ АКАДЕМИЧЕСКИХ ПАРТНЕРОВ КАК ФАКТОР ПОВЫШЕНИЯ КАЧЕСТВА ПОДГОТОВКИ В ВУЗЕ

One of the principal priorities in higher education development strategy is improving the quality of training at university. In this study employment is considered a key indicator of university training quality. The study included five universities in Russia and Belarus over the period from February to April 2023; a total of 436 respondents were covered. It was determined that the level of importance assigned to employment in terms of training quality may vary depending on the subject category within the university ecosystem. A direct correlation was established between the ranking of key subjects of the university ecosystem and the evaluation of their impact on employment as an indicator of training quality. The mechanisms for building an academic partner network are described, based on the network theory (T. Rowley), the stakeholder approach (R. Freeman), as well as the ecosystem approach to managing the training quality at a university. From the perspective of management practice, it is significant that the study results confirmed the author’s thesis: increasing the level of employment through building a partner network can improve university quality.

Export of medical education in the university ecosystem of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article defines the role of export of educational services in the system of national education of the Kyrgyz Republic. The main problem in the realization of such services is the integration of foreign students into the national environment. The purpose of the study is to create a means to support such students in mastering educational programs. For this purpose, a structural analysis of the educational process was carried out to establish the key objects and related processes. A functional model is created, reflecting all aspects that influence the change of process states and transforming objects (e.g., controlling influences and mechanisms). The resulting model is the basis for the design phase in the software life cycle model.