Chapter 1: A Framework for University-Based Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Case of University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka

Entrepreneurship is pivotal for sustained economic growth and a strategy to fight against long-term poverty. Despite the importance of entrepreneurship, many economies in the Global South have encountered obstacles in promoting and supporting entrepreneurial activities. In response, governments, international agencies and other organisations have introduced various initiatives to foster entrepreneurship in these economies. Universities in the Global South may function as the linchpin that promotes entrepreneurship education (EE) and enterprise development, and they should aim to look beyond the siloed entrepreneurship activities to develop a vibrant ecosystem to truly advance entrepreneurship.

Using the autoethnography methodological approach with brief interviews, the authors propose a two-layer framework for the university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem (UBEE). This chapter draws on prior literature and entrepreneurship-related initiatives at the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka to propose a framework. The first layer of this framework encompasses EE, entrepreneurship-related activities and entrepreneurship-related facilities. The components of the first layer primarily aim to develop entrepreneurial attitudes and skills among students and promote enterprise development. The second layer of the framework comprises institutional-level factors such as policies, culture, human capital and external linkages that can contribute to creating an environment conducive to entrepreneurship. The proposed framework encapsulates the internal dynamics of a university that fosters entrepreneurship. This chapter also discusses the challenges of sustaining UBEE in developing economies such as Sri Lanka and demonstrates how the entrepreneurship activities of the University of Kelaniya are contributing towards the third mission of universities.