Providing a model for development of entrepreneurial university in Iran

The innovation system emphasizes on importance of adapting university to environment and the need to reengineer the organizational structure, roles, and functions of higher education. However, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive and operational model for development of entrepreneurial university at state universities in Iran. This was a qualitative study which used Grounded Theory. The statistical population consisted of policy makers and professors in higher education and entrepreneurship, managers of entrepreneurship growth centers and science and technology parks, industry department authorities, and PhD candidates. Using purposeful sampling method, 20 people were selected as key informants. The data were collected through a generalized and semi-structured interview. Two methods including reviewing the participants and reviewing non-participating experts in research were used to obtain valide and reliable data. The data were analyzed by open, axial, and selective coding. At initial stage, 462 conceptual propositions were obtained; in second stage, they were classified in 126 categories. At axial coding stage, 22 key items were counted. The major categories and key categories in the form of causal conditions (commitment and tendency of management and leadership to entrepreneurship, internationalization), contextual (flexibility of laws and regulations, financial support, and entrepreneurial investment), intervener (university and industry commitment, and over-­organizational support), strategies (curriculum with entrepreneurship approach, formal and informal education for entrepreneurship, and coordination of entrepreneurship corridors), and outcomes (quality improvement, social and economic development, and student satisfaction) were promoted to a higher abstract level and a research paradigmatic model was provided.