Critical success factors for transformation of public universities into entrepreneurial universities

Even with the urgent need for public universities to transform into entrepreneurial universities in Botswana, very little is known especially in developing countries such as Botswana on what it takes to transform. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the critical success factors for the creation of entrepreneurial universities in Botswana. Our core research question asks: What are the critical success factors for the transformation of public universities into entrepreneurial universities? The study used a descriptive literature review methodology to collect secondary data. A data set of 150 articles were reviewed which dated from 1987 to 2024. Data sources identified were books, academic journals, academic papers, technical reports, theses, articles, and working papers from reputable academic databases such as Scopus, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ProQuest, Research Gate, Scientific Research Publishing and Wiley. The study revealed four main success factors in creating entrepreneurial universities - strategic, internal, environmental and external. The study underscored the need for resources, entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial leadership and entrepreneurial culture in the creation of an entrepreneurial university. Moreover, flexible governance structure, enterprise support policies, role model and reward system, entrepreneurial architecture and collaborations with stakeholders were also highlighted as crucial for a successful transformation of public universities into entrepreneurial universities. The study further revealed that the transformation requires external support mechanisms from government, industry, and regional interventions. Consequently, creating an entrepreneurial university requires a collective effort between the university itself, government, industry and regional interventions. The implication is that public universities should forge partnerships and synergies with external stakeholders to transform into entrepreneurial universities. In light of the above, the study recommends the adoption of a quadruple helix model in creating entrepreneurial universities. Future research is recommended to fully evaluate the efficacy of the quadruple helix model in the development of an entrepreneurial university. The study contributes to the body of knowledge and global debates surrounding the creation of entrepreneurial universities.