University-lead enterprise development in lagging behind regions: fourth-generation university functions?

Abstract

In recent years, universities have been taking changing roles. Universities have a determining role in lagging behind regions; an example of this is the University of Szeged (SZTE), which is an “innovation island” in a rather inhomogeneous and economically underdeveloped region. The SZTE can be suitable as a “fourth-generation” university to proactively influence the economic and social change of its local region. Therefore, in our study we attempt to examine the potential role of entrepreneurship education and the university in a lagging behind region (in this case, in the Southern Great Plain region).