The Entrepreneurial University plays a central role in entrepreneurial ecosystems and actively influences the development of entrepreneurial human capital, which is a critical asset for many economies. There is thus a requirement for the identification and strengthening of entrepreneurial competences, but no previous studies have included any analysis of these competences in the university context using an approach based on profiles. The present study fills this gap by investigating the existence of different entrepreneurial profiles among students, based on their competences. It also defines key competences that are critical for differentiating between these profiles and improving entrepreneurial competence levels more generally. To meet these objectives, a field research campaign was developed. Data on 1104 students from various degrees and faculties were collected and analyzed using a quantitative methodological approach. The results reveal the existence of four entrepreneurial competence profiles, namely low profile, top profile, social profile, and grit profile. Among as many as 12 possible entrepreneurial competences, the most prominent can explain to a large extent the entrepreneurial profiles of students; these are networking and professional social skills, community engagement, perseverance of effort, and consistency of interest. The results provide evidence of the importance of social capital and grit. In addition to their contribution to the theory in this area and the development of the Entrepreneurial University paradigm, the results are also useful for the design of training strategies aimed at strengthening the levels of competence of students, thereby providing universities with tools to foster the creation of entrepreneurial human capital.

PurposeEntrepreneurship is presented as a vehicle for innovation and social development. Given the importance of entrepreneurship, the objective of this study was to analyze the psychological and sociological dimensions by determining the factors that explain individual perceptions and cultural support for entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachUsing Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data obtained from the Adult Population Survey (APS) (N = 2,500) in the region of Andalusia (Spain), a quantitative analysis was carried out, specifically a multivariate analysis based on four-stage linear regressions.FindingsThe variables examined do not explain the psychological and sociological dimensions to the same extent. The results highlight the existence of cultural homogeneity between provinces, the importance of sociodemographic variables and the influence of the entrepreneurial expectations and experiences of the population, especially in shaping individual perceptions towards entrepreneurship.Research limitations/implicationsThe replication of the study at the national and international levels is proposed in order to delve deeper into the cultural differences that condition entrepreneurship. Including new variables associated with entrepreneurial human capital could also be of interest.Practical implicationsThe results can help to improve the design and implementation of policies and programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurship through the promotion of favorable individual perceptions and entrepreneurial culture.Originality/valueThe originality of this study is the consideration of individual perceptions and cultural support for entrepreneurship as dependent variables, since they are normally incorporated as explanatory factors. The results contribute to the advancement of knowledge of the entrepreneurial phenomenon through two approaches, psychological and sociological.

Innovation is an essential aspect for the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Defining formulas to encourage innovation is therefore crucial. Financial literacy is an area of growing interest in both theory and practice and its relationship with innovation performance has been little studied. This chapter examines the importance of financial literacy for business innovation and the effect that risk-taking has on this relationship. Using a quantitative approach, 309 Spanish SMEs of different sectors are analysed. A mediation analysis shows both a direct and an indirect positive effect on innovation. Thus, this chapter brings insights, developing the existing literature of SMEs. So, it contributes to broaden the scope of the innovation and therefore the sustainable development of these firms. Practical implications are presented for four differentiated areas, which may enhance the sustainable development of SMEs: business management, entrepreneurship, public policies, and university.

PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between the development of academic spin-offs (ASOs) and the type of financing involved, by considering three research questions: How do ASOs differ in terms of financing? To what extent and for what reasons do ASOs differ in their financing? How do business and growth models dictate the selection of different sorts of financing arrangement?Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a grounded-theory, qualitative approach based on 39 Spanish ASOs.FindingsThere is a heterogeneity of ASO financing, and the selection of financial resources is related to the business and growth model of the ASO. Furthermore, there are some critical junctures for financing within each group of ASOs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study advances the understanding of the determinants of ASOs, specifically with respect to financing, business models and growth orientation. The Spanish context used here may not permit the global generalisation of the results; nevertheless, this study is a response to calls to consider the effect of regional context on ASOs.Practical implicationsKnowing the heterogeneity of ASOs in terms of financing and how business and growth models determines the selection of distinct financing sources help financial planning, investment decisions and the design of programmes and policies, which can be relevant for both ASOs and their stakeholders (investors, universities and governments).Originality/valueThis study provides a comprehensive view of ASO financing, confirming a heterogeneity, not only in terms of financing but also in some critical junctures that presage a change from one type of financing to another.

Los trabajadores sociales tienen unas elevadas exigencias laborales como consecuencia, entre otros factores, de la excesiva burocratización de las organizaciones de servicios sociales. Ante esta realidad, durante su proceso formativo, los estudiantes de trabajo social deben desarrollar competencias emocionales para hacer frente a estas demandas profesionales que pueden afectar a su bienestar y rendimiento laboral. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y correlacional de corte transversal del que participaron 187 estudiantes del primer y segundo curso (n = 105 y n = 82, respectivamente) de Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Málaga (España). El 89.30 % eran mujeres y la edad promedio fue de 20.38 años (DT = 3.35). Se desarrolló un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple para evaluar el papel predictor de la inteligencia emocional (atención emocional, claridad emocional y reparación de las emociones) sobre la felicidad subjetiva percibida en estudiantes de trabajo social. La claridad emocional y la reparación de las emociones fueron predictores significativos positivos de la felicidad subjetiva, mientras que la atención emocional fue un predictor significativo negativo. Los estudiantes y futuros trabajadores sociales tienen que entender y manejar sus estados emocionales, de tal manera que les permita tanto afrontar sus propias frustraciones como constituirse en referentes de los usuarios para imponerse a sus dificultades. Se corrobora la necesidad de fomentar la inteligencia emocional entre los estudiantes y futuros trabajadores sociales, ya que esto constituye un factor de protección que puede aumentar su bienestar y concretamente, su felicidad subjetiva. Las experiencias de afecto negativas que sufren los trabajadores sociales demandan planes de estudio en los que se fomente la inteligencia emocional.

PurposeLinkages play a strategic role in improving actor disposition and resource density in university–industry ecosystems. Due to the importance of interconnected ecosystems for the development of engaged universities, applying the service-dominant logic (SDL) perspective, the authors aim at developing theory on linkages that lead to a higher level of actor commitment and in turn result in increased actor disposition and greater resource density.Design/methodology/approachData from semistructured interviews from four in depth case studies, known internationally as successful cases of university linkages development (Columbia Lab-to-Market Accelerator Network, Oxford University Innovation, Auckland Uniservices and the Münster Center for Interdisciplinarity), undergo qualitative analysis according to the Gioia methodology.FindingsThe results represent a contribution to the theory, as they highlight the strategic role of linkages in improving actor disposition and increasing resource density. Due to its shown importance, linkage is an element to be considered on its own in the innovation ecosystems configurations in the context of universities.Practical implicationsThe results of the research have implications for university management, since they focus on how resources are mobilized and linked. The interactive roles of actors in ecosystems imply that the locus of value creation moves beyond the borders of the organization toward the linkages. Strategies for managing university–industry linkages (UIL) are presented.Originality/valueTo date there has not been sufficient theoretical or empirical contribution in the university–industry ecosystem context about the role of linkages to improve resource density through increased actor disposition.

La felicidad subjetiva es uno de los indicadores de la calidad de vida laboral más importantes en Trabajo Social, que depende del desarrollo de la inteligencia emocional. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre inteligencia emocional (atención, claridad y reparación emocional) y felicidad subjetiva en una muestra de 187 estudiantes de Trabajo Social del sur de España (Edad media= 20.38 años,89.30% mujeres), usando un diseño transversal y mediante el uso de cuestionarios. Mayores niveles de felicidad subjetiva se asociaron positiva y significativamente con mayores puntuaciones en claridad y reparación emocional, pero no con atención. La formación debería otorgar mayor peso a la inteligencia emocional. El desarrollo de la inteligencia emocional por medio de cursos implementados en facultades y en centros de servicios sociales posibilitaría a estudiantes y profesionales de Trabajo Social adquirir mecanismos de afrontamiento más eficaces y, por tanto, aumentar su felicidad y calidad de vida.

Entrepreneurship conditions the sustainable development of a society by the economic, social, and environmental impact of new ventures. Specifically, startups, due to their high level of innovation and scalability, have an important role in fostering and accelerating the implementation of sustainable practices. An empirical analysis is carried out through data collected in the framework of the GEM project to define the extent in which startups innovation impact SDGs. The results highlight that the most frequently addressed goals belong to the economic sphere (e.g., SDG 8 and SDG 9), while environmental and social aspects are scarcely considered. More than half of the SDGs are addressed by less than 10% of the startups. A change in policies to promote SDGs is needed to foster the implementation of CSR strategies from early entrepreneurial stages, increase startups awareness, and face the lack of attention that some SDGs are receiving from the currently emerging innovation.