Embracing The Second Academic Revolution: An Entrepreneurial University Model For Malawian Universities

The emergence of an entrepreneurial university in the United States and its consequent adoption in mostly developed and developing economies has made governments virtually all over the world to recognize the potential of the university as a resource to enhance innovation environments and create a regime of science-based economic development. In addition to addressing gaps in the National Innovation System, an entrepreneurial university provides solutions to myriad challenges faced by higher education institutions eminent across the world. Despite such popularity, little is known about the adoption of an entrepreneurial university in least developed economies. This study was, therefore, carried out to explore a model of an entrepreneurial university that would be adopted by countries in least developed economies, Malawi in particular. 

The study used a multi case studies holistic approach where a structured questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection was informed extensively by theoretical perspectives on an entrepreneurial university and management tools. The analysis of quantitative data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel, and open coding of qualitative data resulted into three major components of an entrepreneurial university model to be adopted by Malawian universities namely: the transforming strategies, the transforming elements and the entrepreneurial paradigm outputs. The three transforming strategies include establishment of offices to advance entrepreneurship, development of a clear and deliberate policy on entrepreneurship and development of an entrepreneurial mindset in the university. The six transforming elements are: committed university leadership, an integrated entrepreneurial culture in teaching and research missions, faculty motivation, supportive financial strategy, impact assessment of entrepreneurial university activities and internal and external collaborations. The major outputs of the adopted entrepreneurial university in Malawian universities in the short term are consultancies and research contracts with focus on patent licensing, start-ups and spin-offs in the longer term.  

The study provides a critical insight on the multi-dimensional view of an entrepreneurial university from the context of universities in least developed countries in Africa. Although the study focuses on Malawi, the results could also reflect on the multiplicity of models of an entrepreneurial university in higher education institutions in least developed countries.   

Adoption of an entrepreneurial university in Malawi entails complete mental revolution to foster an entrepreneurial mindset development and incorporation of economic development in the delivery of teaching and research missions