Transformation towards entrepreneurialism in Turkish Universities: A dilemma and critical evaluation

Abstract

Due to knowledge economy and its impacts on collaborative works with industry, universities have been obliged to shift themselves into entrepreneurialism. This effect has a great impact on the research and development activities conducted and brings about cultural change in academia and institutions. The cultural change can cause conflicts and dilemma in the overall organization of the universities. University – industry collaborative activities in Turkey began in the late of 1980s and accelerated in the late of 1990s. Universities have been in the process of establishing techno-centers to promote them and take great part into the entrepreneurial activities especially in the early 1990s. Integrating the values of entrepreneurialism into universities is a chaotic and complex issue as there has been clashes with the values exited. This paper deals with this dilemma and to make a critical analysis in the case of Turkish universities.