Designing a capability-based university entrepreneurship model in the Islamic Azad University of Golestan Province

Today, unemployment of university graduates is one of the concerns of the government, the key to solve which is in universities. This study aimed to present a model of capability-based university entrepreneurship. This research is qualitative and based on Grounded Theory. Participants included academic experts in field of entrepreneurship selected purposefully. Research data were collected through in-depth that reached theoretical saturation in the 15th interview. Interviews were analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding. To validate the findings, long-term engagement measures and continuous observation, review by participants, peer review and triangulation technique were performed and to assess reliability, the criteria of reliability, transferability, reliability and verification were used. Findings showed that causal conditions include structural, innovative, supportive and environmental factors; Intervening conditions include policy-making, university dependence on financial resources, and access to the international market; Context conditions include upgrading the infrastructure of the university, developing the vision of the university entrepreneurship system, contriving entrepreneurial opportunities, the optimal distribution of financial resources for doing business, and contriving the research and commercialization process at the university. Strategies include formulating a vision for entrepreneurial activities, combining theoretical and empirical knowledge related to entrepreneurship, proper interaction between university and industry, providing entrepreneurial standards by long-term plans, and establishing a technology licensing office which lead to consequences including improving the commercialization of academic findings, creating growth centers and technology, employment based on entrepreneurial spirit, the growth of knowledge-based business activities and the institutionalization of entrepreneurial spirit among managers, employees, students and professors.