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FACULTY FOCUS around the world as they continue to evolve into a global education group .
We are seeing an increased focus on the concept of an entrepreneurial university globally in recent times . The National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education ( NCEE ) in the UK has emerged to support , showcase and champion such differentiating providers . NCEE recognises an outstanding entrepreneurial university as :
“ an institution whose vision and strategy place enterprise , entrepreneurship and innovation at the heart of the organisation , where an environment has been created that encourages entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviours in staff and students , and ensures that ideas and innovation are nurtured and given the support they need to flourish and where the strategic approach to entrepreneurship has the potential to influence and improve other institutions ’ work in this area , whether directly or because it is transferable in the sector more widely .”
The activities and services NCEE provides includes the long-standing Entrepreneurial Leaders programme , which has been running for more than 10 years and supports education leaders to become more creative , innovative and agile .
The programme builds a picture of practice and policy through thought pieces , national reports and policy papers on enterprise and entrepreneurial leadership within higher education , benchmarking institutions and assessing their entrepreneurial capacity as part of their Entrepreneurial University Framework and recognises best practice through the UK ’ s THE Higher Outstanding Entrepreneurial University Award every year .
More broadly , then , we might define a purposeful university as one willing to stand out from the pack of bunched competitors . Such an institution is purposeful in seeking to pursue non-traditional goals and achieve success measured by non-traditional metrics in research , teaching and learning .
A purposeful university might be described as one seeking to pursue a clear and different mission , and one that is innovative and creative in its leadership , strategy , partnerships and use of technology and business models . The purpose may be related to narrow or broad goals of sustainability as Western Sydney demonstrated when they have excelled against the UN SDGs as measured by the Impact rankings .
Purpose might be defined by innovation as in the Arizona State University story , or entrepreneurial as in the NCEE ’ s definition . Or , it might be about achieving diversity , equity and inclusion in student engagement and recruitment , and thereby making the greatest impact by capitalising on the transformational potential of higher education for the greatest number students from under-represented backgrounds .
A purposeful university might also be one that focuses on student outcomes , in terms of career prospects , or lifelong opportunities and experiences .
These goals were prioritised and achieved by Coventry University , and independently measured by The Guardian and QS World University Rankings , respectively .
As we await the announcement of the 2022 THE Outstanding Entrepreneurial University in the UK , we might also reflect on some broader examples of how differentiation and purpose can be defined , pursued and celebrated . We should recognise the importance of strategy , leadership , culture , partnerships and technology , aligned with new business models , in getting there . ■
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