Purpose Entrepreneurship education thrives on the pillars of experiential education. Using the case of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, the purpose of this paper is to examine the entrepreneurship clinic (EC) as a viable pedagogy for the promotion of experiential education in entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on insider action research to analyse, within Joplin’s five-step model, the case of the EC at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Findings The analysis showed that the KNUST clinic comprises five main activities including preparation, orientation, selection and matching, coaching and monitoring and evaluation. In relation to Joplin’s five-step model, the first three stages of the clinic provide focus for the clinic while the remaining two stages – coaching and monitoring and evaluation – entail activities that are geared towards action, support, feedback and debrief. Through the clinic, thousands of tertiary students have been trained in entrepreneurship and new venture creation; some selected participants have been coached while others have had the opportunity to qualify for business incubation. Research limitations/implications Although the paper discusses some achievements of the clinic in relation to enrolment and fundraising, it does not assess the impact of the clinic on the entrepreneurial competencies, intentions and initiatives of participants, hence, these issues are recommended for future research. Practical implications The paper demonstrates that it is feasible to implement the EC methodology, irrespective of the cost and time implications that are often associated with experiential educational methodologies. However, support from university management, funding raising from internal and external sources and technical support from industry and government agencies are key to the sustainability of clinics. Originality/value The paper adds novelty to the entrepreneurship education literature by bringing to the fore how a university in an emerging African economy is implementing and managing the EC pedagogy.

A knowledge-based economy thrives on constructed advantages generated through well-planned recursive interactions among key actors in the economy. Using a desk review, this paper advances theoretical and conceptual arguments in support of research collaboration as a critical and viable medium for the conduct of research and innovation geared towards economic growth and development. We propose a conceptual framework to guide future research on the determinants and the dynamics of research collaboration as well as the use of collaborative research output in innovation. The framework, which can be modelled, is recommended for descriptive and explanatory research aimed at obtaining first-hand information for policy interventions that seek to advance the knowledge-based economy, through research collaboration. Mensah andEnu-Kwesi Triple Helix (2018) 5:1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40604-018-0049-5(Continued from previous page) la recherche descriptive et explicative visant à obtenir des informations de première main pour des interventions de politiques visant à faire progresser l'économie de la connaissance, grâce à la collaboration en matière de recherche. ResumoUma economia baseada no conhecimento prospera em vantagens construídas geradas através de interações recursivas bem planejadas entre os principais atores da economia. Usando uma mesa revisão, este artigo avança argumentos teóricos e conceituais em apoio de colaboração de pesquisa como meio crítico e viável para a realização de pesquisas e inovação voltada para o crescimento econômico e o desenvolvimento. Propomos um quadro conceitual para orientar futuras pesquisas de forma que sejam determinantes e dinâmicas e colaborativas, bem como o uso da produção de pesquisa colaborativa em inovação. O quadro, que pode ser modelado, é recomendado por ser descritivo e por explorar as pesquisas destinadas a obter informações de primeira mão para intervenções políticas que buscam avançar a economia baseada no conhecimento, através da colaboração de pesquisa. АннотацияЭкономика знаний успешна в структурах, основанных на систематическом взаимодействии ключевых участников экономических отношений. На основании кабинетных исследований в настоящей статье представлены теоретические и концептуальные аргументы в поддержку исследовательского партнерства как критически значимой и благоприятной среды для проведения исследований и инноваций, способствующей экономическому росту и развитию. Мы предлагаем концептуальную модель для использования в будущих исследованиях ключевых факторов и логики развития исследовательского партнерства, равно как и вклада совместных исследований в инновации. Концепция, которая может быть представлена в виде модели, рекомендована для описательных и пояснительных исследований, нацеленных на получение первичной информации при разработке стратегий в сфере стимулирования экономики знаний посредством исследовательского партнерства. ResumenUna economía basada en el conocimiento se nutre de las ventajas generadas a través de interacciones recursivas entre lo...

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The purpose of this study was to analyse the determinants of the intention of academic researchers to collaborate on research projects with the carriers of innovation. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed to analyse survey data from 266 stratified sampled researchers and 11 key informants from different disciplines in two of Ghana’s public universities. Analysis of variance results showed a quite high intention to collaborate, with no statistically significant differences across disciplines. Regression results indicate that attitude was the leading predictor of intention to collaborate, and it was explained by the conviction and relevance attached to the capacity of research collaboration to speed up career advancement, to be a source of income and to be a means of advancing research work. Perceived behavioural control, explained by research capability and boundary-spanning skills, and environmental possibility, made up of funding, reward and administrative support, also influenced the intention of respondents to engage in research collaboration. The authors therefore propose that the universities should acknowledge and count research collaboration as a criterion in the promotion of academics and, together with national actors, should spearhead the establishment of a national research and innovation fund, research and innovation award schemes, and the requisite administrative support.