Abstract

The present study is conducted to find out the entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial orientation of faculty and students towards commercialization of research. The study is conducted on a sample of respondents belonging to one research university of Malaysia. The results indicate that entrepreneurial orientation of faculty and students is having more influence towards commercialization of research than entrepreneurial intention alone. The results also indicate that the faculty and students are having a strong entrepreneurial mindset. The study contributes to the existing body of literature related to entrepreneurship and the concept of entrepreneurial university. The study also recommends future course of action.

Introduction

For the success of modern day complex societies entrepreneurship has become of vital importance not just for their survival but also for their sustainability (Audretch, 2007). Entrepreneurship comes with many promises and is viewed differently by different stakeholders. Policy makers focus it from view point of economic competitiveness in global markets and employment creation opportunities. Entrepreneur focuses it from opportunity exploitation perspective that would yield high gains and a meaningful career (Kuckertz & Wagner, 2010).

Promoting entrepreneurship in the society which is riddled with enormous economic and social challenges is essential and that this should start at early age and policies designed to incorporate this promotion in the educational institutions for fostering entrepreneurial skills in the youth of society (World Economic Forum, 2009). Lenan and Chen (2009) are of the opinion that promoting strong and friendly entrepreneurial culture through policy reforms like legal frameworks that facilitate firm creation are important for transmitting message of value entrepreneurship can add to the people.