Analyzing the Key Drivers of Sustainable Academic Entrepreneurship: A System Dynamics Perspective

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Elham Mofateh Zade

Ali Morovati Sharifabadi

Habib Zare Ahmadabadi

Seyed Heydar MirFakhrodini

Department of Management, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

10.22067/jstinp.2025.94293.1161

Abstract

Sustainable academic entrepreneurship constitutes a fundamental pillar of sustainable academic transformation, enabling universities to align their missions with environmental, economic, and societal objectives. Although global interest in this field is rising, many universities—especially in developing countries—face institutional and structural barriers that hinder the emergence of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. A comprehensive, systems-based understanding of the key drivers, interdependencies, and feedback mechanisms is essential to address these challenges. This study employs a mixed-method design, integrating meta-synthesis of scholarly literature and expert interviews to identify 25 critical factors influencing sustainable academic entrepreneurship. A system dynamics model was constructed and validated by academic stakeholders. The model was simulated using Vensim software over 60 months, and seven policy scenarios were tested, focusing on variables including entrepreneurship education, financial support, industrial experience, managerial continuity, and regulatory conditions. Simulation findings demonstrate that enhancing the quality of entrepreneurship education, expanding industrial experience among faculty and students, and implementing targeted financial incentives significantly strengthen entrepreneurial capacity and foster the development of sustainable innovation centers. Moreover, scenario-specific results indicated that integrated implementation of multiple supportive policies produced the most substantial improvements, whereas isolated interventions had limited effects. Conversely, institutional constraints—including bureaucratic complexity, inconsistent policies, and limited leadership commitment—generate strong balancing feedback loops that impede long-term growth. The most effective improvements emerged from the integrated implementation of supportive policy measures. To promote sustainable academic entrepreneurship, universities must adopt systemic and forward-looking strategies that simultaneously address structural and behavioral drivers. Findings from the policy scenarios suggest that reinforcing positive feedback loops—including education, experience, and institutional support—while minimizing counterproductive constraints maximizes idea success rates, innovation outputs, and ecosystem resilience.  The proposed model offers actionable insights for policymakers aiming to align institutional transformation with sustainable development goals.

Keywords

Sustainable academic entrepreneurship

System dynamics modeling

Entrepreneurship education

Vensim simulation

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