This blog was kindly contributed by Dr Robert Crammond, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Universities are driven by several factors, from teaching and student satisfaction to the demands of the local business community , as well as the push to respond to social and technological change. We are also seeing increasing pressure for universities to become entrepreneurial in both practice and purpose.
Entrepreneurship and universities
The concept of the entrepreneurial university is now firmly established in the mainstream. Previously a mooted buzzword, being ‘enterprising’ is now a necessity within educational settings. Entrepreneurship is represented by stand-alone (short) courses and even as a category within annual higher education awards. At least half of UK universities deliver a notable entrepreneurship course or programme, and many proudly highlight their in-house business support for academic spinouts and student start-ups. Entrepreneurial universities should provide professional development for staff.
