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International scientific mobility is a strategic element in the science policies of several countries, being often equated with the development of extensive knowledge networks that can be mobilised by the scientists (and their organisations) upon their return. The objective of this paper is to understand whether and in which conditions mobility leads to the development of knowledge links that are long lasting and effectively play a key role in scientists' activities. In conceptual terms, the influence of mobility is explained through the opportunities it provides for temporary co-location in one organisation, and thus for the creation of social, cognitive and organisational proximity between scientists, which are critical for knowledge transmission and which can persist after the individuals draw apart. This conceptual framework supports an empirical analysis of the impact of two types of long term mobility -for training and professional purposes -on the creation of "persistent knowledge networks", in the case of Portuguese scientists. The results show that mobile scientists are more likely to have foreign organisations in their core knowledge network. Even more importantly, they reveal a high incidence of organisations that were part of the scientists' trajectory in these networks, providing some confirmation to the effects of colocation. However, these effects are not always present: the research also identifies some factors -related with personal characteristics, career situation, scientific field, time, geographical distance, motivations to move -that increase the likelihood of network persistence, which differ for the two types of mobility. AcknowledgmentsResearch conducted in the context of the project MOBISCIENCE: Scientists´mobility in Portugal: trajectories and knowledge circulation (PTDC/ESC/64411/2006), funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, whose support is gratefully acknowledged.2

Purpose This paper aims to look at the characteristics of internal quality assurance (IQA) systems of higher education institutions to understand whether these systems tend to reproduce a given model, externally defined and suggested to institutions, or rather to be shaped by institutions’ features and interests. Design/methodology/approach The study is supported in the analysis of the content of self-assessment reports of 12 internal QA systems certified, in Portugal, between 2012 and 2015. An analysis grid was used based on three categories: IQA systems’ historical framework, structural/managerial component and monitoring, assessment and continuous improvement. Findings Institutions tended to follow a “one size fits all” approach, meaning that external (European and national) quality assurance (QA) references were used in an identical way, giving origin to rather similar IQA systems. Institutional characteristics do not seem to have played a relevant role, eventually due to institutions’ will to obtain their systems’ certification and, thus, achieve a light-touch external QA. Research limitations/implications The study was based on the analysis of only certified IQA systems and relies on document analysis. It would be interesting to also include non-certified systems, in a comparative perspective, complemented with data deriving from interviews and/or questionnaires with some of the actors involved in the certification process. Practical implications The study provides an understanding of how IQA systems are being implemented in Portugal. Thus, it can be of interest to other institutions as well as to QA agencies. Originality/value The study addresses a topic still relatively absent from research on QA in higher education, being of interest for researchers in the field.

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Abstract:The main research question addressed in this paper concerns the way entrepreneurs' social networks affect the opportunity identification and the access and mobilization of resources in a science-based field -biotechnology -facilitating the founding of new firms. For this purpose we adopted an analytical framework combining contributions from the technological entrepreneurship and the social network literature and, on this basis, we proposed: i) that entrepreneurs social networks, both those associated with their academic and professional trajectories and those intentionally build already having the firm as a goal, are critical to access the wide range of resources necessary to create a new firm in this type of field; ii) that different network configurations are associated with the access and mobilisation of different types of resources. We developed a methodology that combines several methods usually applied separately and that permits to assemble of a vast array of data capturing the nature and contents of a wide range of relationships. This methodology was applied to a sub-set of the Portuguese biotechnology industry -the molecular biology firms. Globally this research provides evidence that contributes to on-going debates in the area of social networks and entrepreneurship, both at the methodological and empirical levels. At this stage the main contribution regards the development of a methodology that was found to offer important insights into the behaviour of science-based entrepreneurs in their search for key resources for firm formation. The results obtained, although still exploratory, already provide some indications concerning the conditions for biotechnology entrepreneurship in countries that are peripheral relative to the major concentrations of biotechnology knowledge and business.

En nt tr re ep pr re en ne eu ur rs sh hi ip p a an nd d s so oc ci ia al l n ne et tw wo or rk ks s i in n I IT T s se ec ct to or rs s: : t th he e c ca as se e o of f t th he e s so of ft tw wa ar re e i in nd du us st tr ry y 2 DINÂMIA-CENTRO DE ESTUDOS SOBRE A MUDANÇA SOCIOECONÓMICA ISCTE, Av. das Forças Armadas,