Author(s): Donna Fernandez-Nogueira, Arantza Arruti, Leire Markuerkiaga, Nerea Saenz
This article analyses entrepreneurial good practices from a selection of Spanish universities in different knowledge areas and regions of Spain. The methodology, based on a previous quantitative research on the factors that form an entrepreneurial university, includes a qualitative research with semi-structured interviews to the most outstanding entrepreneurial Spanish universities so as to detect their best practices. For the quantitative study, a questionnaire was designed with items grouped into 14 factors that defined the entrepreneurial university according to a model previously developed. The questionnaire was answered by 84 deans/directors from different faculties from six Spanish regions. The findings showed, among others, that Spanish universities are significant in internalization, use of active methodologies, mission and strategy and management team support. The good practices were analysed bearing in mind the above mentioned factors in which the universities were outstanding and the criteria to consider good practices. The results provide innovative and creative good practices replicable at any university and guidelines for universities to move forward on being entrepreneurial, as well as showing positive social and economic impacts in society by giving the university community the tools and possibilities required for them to be entrepreneurial and therefore, train students using active methodologies.