FUNDAMENTAL TENETS OF A RURAL-BASED ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study aims to identify the key initiatives that should characterize a rural-based higher education institution experimenting with the entrepreneurial university concept in South Africa. Using an exploratory case study design, primary data was collected from key stakeholders and analysed using Atlas-ti v8 software for thematic analysis and inferential statistics through IBM SPSS Amos v27. The results generated five fundamental tenets - entrepreneurial knowledge-building that resonates with practical skills, enterprise formation/commercialization, integration of indigenous entrepreneurship concepts, embedding resourceful stakeholders in the value chain, and engaged scholarship. The findings indicate that integrating indigenous concepts is aligned with the development of entrepreneurial knowledge-building and commercialization efforts; together, these tenets promise a successful rural-based entrepreneurial university in the study area, although stakeholder engagement and community partnership are also crucial components for success. In the context of this study, the concept of a rural-based entrepreneurial university is oriented towards inclusive economic development, social relevance, and mutual benefit, in contrast to profit-driven models seen in many entrepreneurial universities worldwide. These findings provide valuable insights for policy and research, paving the way for developing an index to guide rural-based universities in South Africa and beyond. It is recommended that the University of Venda, where this study was conducted, integrates the key findings into its strategic plans and utilizes them effectively to advance its entrepreneurial university aspirations.