Do Interpersonal Networks Mediate the Relationship Between International Academic Mobility and Entrepreneurial Knowledge?

Abstract

Temporary international mobility is an increasingly relevant practice amongst academics. However, current literature lacks understanding on whether such mobility influences the individual academics’ entrepreneurial knowledge. This paper hypothesizes that temporary international academic mobility is conducive to the academic’s entrepreneurial knowledge and that interpersonal social networks play a crucial role in the transfer of this knowledge through their strength and size properties. We perform a Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Model and build upon an original survey data set collected amongst 281 Chinese academics. We find that the size of one’s interpersonal social network fully mediates the relationship between international academic mobility and entrepreneurial knowledge. This result points to the importance of a structurally broad - rather than a relationally strong - international social network in the academic’s accumulation of entrepreneurial knowledge abroad.

Who Am I? The Influence of Knowledge Networks on PhD Students’ Formation of a Researcher Role Identity

“…Research mobility is mandatory for all FINESSE PhD students and is aimed at providing them with the possibility to acquire experience in both academic and industry settings. It also facilitates collaboration, knowledge exchange and interaction between PhD students from different universities (De Moortel et al 2021). During the period of training, the PhD students participate in four one-week intensive trainings on photonics which links academic research to industrial applications and extends the PhD students' knowledge in that domain.…”