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The Role of Experience of Academics in University Engagement: Looking at University-Industry Linkages

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Developing Engaged and Entrepreneurial Universities

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Abstract

University-industry linkages (UILs) can generate significant tangible and intangible benefits by combining a university’s specialized knowledge and human resources with industry expertise. Individuals contribute skills, knowledge, competencies and experience to such linkages and are the key drivers for determining their success. While having prior experience in UILs has been discussed as important to achieve substantial UIL, literature is yet to understand why this is the case, considering in particular the behavioral changes university representatives and academic actors make as they gain such experience. This change in strategies and mindset is an entrepreneurial one. In terms of the book entrepreneurial universities are also seen as engaged Universities. Based on an interview series the impact individual experience has on project and relationship success, as well as related changes in three levels, strategic, personal and operational, are discussed, leading to theoretical and managerial implications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Svend Hoyer GmbH, Munich, Germany

    Nisha Korff

  2. The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Carolin Plewa

  3. Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Germany

    Thomas Baaken

Authors
  1. Nisha Korff
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  2. Carolin Plewa
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  3. Thomas Baaken
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolin Plewa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Thorsten Kliewe

  2. APOLLON University of Applied Sciences, Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Tobias Kesting

  3. Adelaide Business School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Carolin Plewa

  4. Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Thomas Baaken

Appendix: Interview Guide

Appendix: Interview Guide

  1. I.

    General

    Information about the interviewee

    1. 1.

      What kind of linkages with industry/university are you involved in?

    2. 2.

      How many projects/relationships are you involved in?

    3. 3.

      When did those partnerships commence?

    4. 4.

      Have you been employed in industry/at university previously?

    5. 5.

      What role do you have in the projects/relationships?

  2. II.

    Experience

    Discuss first and ongoing involvement with industry/commercialization

    University:

    1. 1.

      Why did you get engaged?

    2. 2.

      How was first contact made?

    3. 3.

      What happened? How do you manage/handle collaborative projects?

    4. 4.

      With increasing experience, did you change? If yes, how?

    5. 5.

      What did you change in your behavior?

    6. 6.

      How did your approach change?

    Industry:

    1. 1.

      How did you first get involved with universities?

    2. 2.

      How was first contact made?

    3. 3.

      What happened? How do you manage/handle collaborative projects?

    4. 4.

      With increasing experience, did you change? If yes, how?

    5. 5.

      What did you change in your behavior?

    6. 6.

      How did your approach change?

  3. III.

    Individual relationships

    Relationship (various relationships; focus on individual relationship when answering questions)

    1. 1.

      Briefly describe what kind of relationship you are engaged in

    2. 2.

      How long has it been running (e.g. several projects or one project, length of time)?

    3. 3.

      How many people are involved on both sides?

    4. 4.

      How much is involved (how important for you)?

  4. IV.

    Clarifying and probing questions

    Interviewers were asked to seek clarifications and ask for specific examples in relation to the individual university-industry relationships mentioned throughout the interview.

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Korff, N., Plewa, C., Baaken, T. (2019). The Role of Experience of Academics in University Engagement: Looking at University-Industry Linkages. In: Kliewe, T., Kesting, T., Plewa, C., Baaken, T. (eds) Developing Engaged and Entrepreneurial Universities. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8130-0_11

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