Global Transformation of Higher Education: From Traditional to Entrepreneurial University

Abstract

In the last few decades, there has been a radical change in the paradigm of universities – from organizations engaged in teaching and conducting basic research to institutions that actively interact with the real sector and commercialize the results of intellectual activity. In the scientific literature, this new model was called an "entrepreneurial university". The main hypothesis is the assumption that there is a global trend of turning traditional universities into entrepreneurial ones, as well as integral external drivers of this process. The purpose of this study is to describe the mechanisms of the university sector transformation in different countries, both at the national level and on the example of individual universities. The methodology of the work combines several research areas: a review of theoretical concepts of the university's activity format evolution; the study of key state tools for the transformation of the university sector; a comparative analysis of statistical data illustrating the cooperation of university science with the business sector; consideration of illustrative examples or cases of university transformation into world-class entrepreneurial universities. The main results and conclusions include the following provisions. First, the deployment of multi-stage mechanisms for creating centers of technological growth of regional and sometimes national economies based on individual universities or their consortia has become a global practice. Secondly, statistical indicators show the existence of a noticeable trend of strengthening cooperation between private companies and universities in conducting R&D, which indicates a gradual reorientation of the latter towards solving applied research tasks that are in demand in the market. Thirdly, the process of universities transforming into entrepreneurial organizations can occur in various ways, but the vital factor is the presence of a real demand for the results of university research and development. The described cases can have practical application when drawing up a strategy for the transformation of Russian universities into entrepreneurial universities.