Where are the gaps? Constructively Aligning Higher Education in an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

This working paper is part of developmental research conducted in 2021 for the EntreUnity (Entrepreneurial University Network) project, an Initiative for Innovation Capacity Building in Higher Education. The project involved a series of scanning and mapping exercises to support the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Based on this preliminary work, it became evident that the combined tools used in the study could potentially form a framework. This framework could help HEIs identify gaps in their entrepreneurial ecosystems, including both internal structures and alignment with the local and regional ecosystems they are part of.

This paper outlines the methodology adopted in this project and discusses the insights that emerged. These insights have since been used to strengthen the University of the West of Scotland's (UWS) place within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Importantly, we are not suggesting universal applicability. What worked at UWS may not work for other HEIs. Instead, we propose a context-neutral model that allows visualisation and discussion of an ecosystem within its immediate regional and broader contexts, facilitating a constructive comparison with other ecosystems. Based on this, this working paper sets out plans for further research and development to produce a replicable model for broader application in mapping these ecosystems elsewhere.