The role of social sciences and humanities within the Entrepreneurial University: exploring new pathways to societal impact

Abstract 

In recent years, universities have faced increasing pressure to demonstrate how they are making a meaningful contribution to society aside from their traditional teaching and research missions. Subsequently, universities have sought to achieve greater societal impact by becoming more entrepreneurial, engaging for instance in technology transfer and firm creation. Due to the intangibility of social sciences and humanities (SSH) knowledge, SSH disciplines have been perceived as less commercially-oriented, assuming by default a secondary and uneasy role within the Entrepreneurial University. Against this backdrop, the societal contribution of social sciences and humanities has been called into questions. This doctoral thesis thus aims to reconceptualise the modern role of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines within the Entrepreneurial University, through the lenses of both academic and student entrepreneurship.  

Funding

VLAIO

Researchers