Designing Organizational Structure for Entrepreneurship Centers in Medical Sciences Universities

Entrepreneurship is a long term educational and training process which necessitates the planning in Iran's educational system especially in universities and higher education institutes. Thereby since 2001, the KARAD project (Entrepreneurship Development in Universities) was started by ministry of sciences, research and technology. However in universities affiliated to health ministry, there are no similar settings with defined organizational structure. This is a comparative and cross-sectional study carried out to developing organizational structure of entrepreneurship centers in universities affiliated to Ministry of Health (MOH).. The study population included 12 entrepreneurship centers affiliated to Ministry of Sciences, Research and Technology in Iran; and 10 centers from selected universities in USA, Netherlands, and Malaysia. Interview and observation methods were used to collect data, and the study tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire. Present study identified the organizational structure, goals, duties, programs, resources, appraisal methods, strengths, and weaknesses of selected entrepreneurship centers. The above-mentioned organizational structures were tested and confirmed by Delphi Technique. At last, considering mentioned variables, health ministry structure, and related socioeconomic conditions, we designed an applied organizational structure to initialize an entrepreneurship center in medical sciences universities. Our findings showed that it is necessary to establishment of entrepreneurship centers in medical sciences universities. The organizational structure of these centers should be scientific, dynamic, and flexible; and conform to mission of center. The model designed in present research, can help to initiating the entrepreneurship centers in medical sciences universities in Iran and it is important for entrepreneurship development for health fields.