Analyzing of capabilities and limitations of the third generation university in entrepreneurship education (case study: Farhangian University)

Today, entrepreneurship is considered the driving force behind the economic and social development of communities, and third-generation universities are regarded as the center for entrepreneurship education. This study investigated the capabilities and limitations of third-generation universities in entrepreneurship education, using a case study of Farhangian University. This research is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of data collection method, which was done with grounded theory method. The research population included all faculty members of Farhangian University, with twenty-two members of the research population, were selected using a chain sampling method and subjected to in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and theoretical saturation was achieved. The collected data were categorized using MaxQDA software into 54 open codes (concepts), 15 axial codes (components), and 4 selective codes (categories). The research results showed, the identified capabilities included six intra-university components (recruitment and attraction of innovative and entrepreneurial managers, professors, and students, development of technological facilities, holding entrepreneurship workshops, and supporting related theses) and four extra-university components (interaction with stakeholders, development of international entrepreneurship, access to funding, and focus on environmental opportunities). The limitations also included three intra-university components (lack of entrepreneurial managers, stagnation in the first or second generation of the university, and lack of workshop facilities) and two extra-university components (lack of entrepreneurial competencies among graduates and lack of funding). Based analysis of the interviews conducted, Farhangian University has higher capabilities in attracting entrepreneurial professors (intra-university) and accessing funding (extra-university), but faces greater limitations in workshop equipment (intra-university) and graduate entrepreneurship (extra-university).