Academic entrepreneurship - preparing PhD students for an entrepreneurial career

The learning journey of a PhD student can often be a lonely one, with students required to work towards intensive individually researched and sole authored academic projects of scholarly importance. As a consequence, entrepreneurship, team working and networking - elements that are becoming increasingly important to the wider world of work - are often neglected. Indeed, many PhD students have ideas that can potentially be commercialized; they also have talent and skills that can be used outside academia.

The term used to describe the start-up of a firm based on a research-based idea is called academic entrepreneurship, and this has become vital in helping universities fulfill their third mission: to contribute to regional innovation. The success of university-based spin-offs is dependent on talented PhD students and this course provides the necessary tools for learning about entrepreneurship and commercialization.

The course is aimed at preparing PhD students to take on an entrepreneurial role after completing their PhD. Theoretically the course contains literature from academic entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial networking and entrepreneurial teams. The students will learn about the university context's support for academic entrepreneurship, and the prerequisites required for university contribution to knowledge based regional development through university spinoffs.

Access to networks is a critical resource for academic entrepreneurs. A change of career path and exchange of information or tangible resources between actors are influenced by social relations. Finally, entrepreneurial creativity and team formation is crucial for successful commercialization of research based ideas.

The course will include a variety of pedagogical approaches, including:

• Lectures to provide the theoretical concepts
• Small groups discussing theoretical articles
• Small group working to allow students to reflect on their own experiences, roles and skills
• Group case work - students working on literature case studies and presenting in plenary session

The course is open for candidates with a documented admission to a PhD program at all faculties at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway. PhD-candidates from other institutions are also welcome.

Maximum 20 participants.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of research on academic entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial teams and entrepreneurial networking
• Knowledge of how to use frameworks to analyze university based spin-offs, research based ideas for commercialization, entrepreneurial networks and team roles

Skills:

• Be able to understand the university context of academic entrepreneurship
• Recognize the value of different team roles within a research based venture
• Be able to build a strategy relating to how to initiate, develop and maintain networks
• Be able to recognize and understand the processes of commercialization and technology transfer.

Language of instruction and examination

Exam:

In order to meet the objectives of the course, each participant will be required to write a scientific paper. In order to pass the exam, each student will have to provide:

• Pre-coursework - by the submission date indicated below, and according to instructions provided ahead of the course.
• Participation - in all parts of the course.
• Written scientific paper - by the submission date indicated below; subject will be provided during the course.