Entrepreneurial University

Introduction: around the world, the science system of many countries is being transformed and changed in response to increasing social and economic need for knowledge and technology. The theory of the entrepreneurial university is one of the models proposed for reflecting the new and transformed image of the university characterized by a broader interaction between the universities and the community. The universities in developed countries have shifted towards entrepreneurship. In knowledge-based economy, along with educational and research responsibilities, universities also have a third mission, which involves more extensive engagement in the process of innovation and development of technology. Accordingly, new university-based networks are being developed and considering their capabilities as the source for producing and distributing knowledge, universities are becoming more entrepreneurial in order to play their critical role in industrial innovation and technology development, leading to new jobs and increased well-being.

Purpose: This research has been designed to identify the effective components of the internationalization of the entrepreneurial university that contribute to the creation of knowledge-based economics. Methodology: The research method was a blended method and the statistical population included experts and experts in the field of growth centers in Islamic Azad universities in Fars province. In the qualitative section of 11 people in the interview process and in the quantitative section with a population of 976 people, 277 people participated as an example in this study. The data gathering tool was an interview and a researcher-made questionnaire. After validation, its reliability was 0.83. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used in the inferential part. Findings: The results of the research of findings showed that the continuous validation components of the university in order to achieve international standards, conduct innovations and international initiatives on campus, the relationship of faculty members with foreign graduates with the highest factor load (0.88) And the component of the application of the system of international education in the university with the least factor load (0.63) of the total variance explained, and other components were important in the following order respectively. Discussion: The coefficient of the effect of components in the internationalization of the entrepreneurial university in creating a knowledge-based economy alone is the highest coefficient of influence on the continuous validation component of the university in order to achieve international standards, carry out innovations and international initiatives on campus, the relationship of faculty members with Foreign graduates with 0.88 and the least in the component of using the distance education system at university.

This study was performed to identify factors affecting the entrepreneurial university. In order to achieve this goal, a sample of 173 faculty members (academic rank of associate professor or higher) in academic year of 2015-2016 was selected using the using relative stratified sampling and Cochran’s formula. In this study, given the purpose and nature of research, for analysis of the data, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used. The results of in-depth interviews and semi-structured and targeted interview with 14 qualified university professors led to the initial questionnaire developed by the researchers at 5-point Likert scale with 50 items; upon exploratory analysis, 9 items were excluded due to extraction value of commonality smaller than 0.5. Content validity of the questionnaire was approved by accredited academic experts. To assess the construct validity, convergent and divergent validity criteria were used. The results of factor loadings of each item showed that all items had factor loading of over 0.4 and average extracted variance of over 0.5, thus convergent validity of the variables was confirmed. In addition, the values ​​of the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) was highest, indicating the validity of divergent validity of the variables. Composite reliability and validity of the questionnaire for all variables showed high levels of 0.7. Results showed that the size and components affecting establishment of entrepreneurial university included internal factors (capabilities, management and leadership, structure, prospects, financial resources and research, cultural and education policies) and external factors (interaction with environment and internationalization of the university). Finally, test of the model using t-test showed that the size and the identified factors had a positive and significant impact on the entrepreneurial university.