IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i12p5637-d1682260.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Talent Development in Science and Technology Parks (STPs) Within the Context of Sustainable Education Systems: Experiential Learning and Mentorship Practices in a Phenomenological Study

Author

Listed:
  • Ümit Deniz İlhan

    (Department of Business Administration, Beykoz University, Istanbul 34805, Türkiye)

  • Cem Duran

    (Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye)

Abstract

The rise of knowledge-based economies has positioned higher education institutions as key actors in human capital development, requiring them to engage more actively with labor markets through strategic partnerships. Within this context, university-affiliated science and technology parks (STPs) have evolved into integrated learning environments that support experiential learning and mentorship practices. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of undergraduate students who participated in these processes within an STP in İstanbul, Türkiye. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 students selected via purposive maximum variation sampling. Thematic analysis, supported by MAXQDA 2024, was used to examine the data. Two main themes were identified: (i) talent development through experiential learning and (ii) talent development through mentorship. The findings indicate that students reconstructed theoretical knowledge through real-world applications, developed a clearer professional identity, and gained strategic career awareness. Mentorship provided both technical and psychosocial support, fostering self-confidence, emotional security, and role modeling. This study concludes that STPs play a strategic role in aligning academic learning with employability and institutional talent development goals. These results contribute to broader educational and workforce development discussions and are closely aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), highlighting STPs as transformative platforms in higher education. Moreover, this study offers practical implications for aligning higher education with employment systems through structured experiential learning and mentorship practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Ümit Deniz İlhan & Cem Duran, 2025. "Talent Development in Science and Technology Parks (STPs) Within the Context of Sustainable Education Systems: Experiential Learning and Mentorship Practices in a Phenomenological Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-35, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5637-:d:1682260
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5637/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5637/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clarysse, Bart & Wright, Mike & Bruneel, Johan & Mahajan, Aarti, 2014. "Creating value in ecosystems: Crossing the chasm between knowledge and business ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1164-1176.
    2. Autio, Erkko & Kenney, Martin & Mustar, Philippe & Siegel, Don & Wright, Mike, 2014. "Entrepreneurial innovation: The importance of context," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1097-1108.
    3. Phillip Phan & Donald S. Siegel & Mike Wright, 2016. "Science Parks and Incubators: Observations, Synthesis and Future Research," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Phillip H Phan & Sarfraz A Mian & Wadid Lamine (ed.), TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS INCUBATION Theory • Practice • Lessons Learned, chapter 9, pages 249-272, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Link, Albert N. & Scott, John T., 2003. "U.S. science parks: the diffusion of an innovation and its effects on the academic missions of universities," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 21(9), pages 1323-1356, November.
    5. Chen Rui & Boris Lokshin & Pierre Mohnen, 2024. "Knowledge Spillovers and Science Parks: Evidence from China," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 153, pages 173-200.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eva-María Mora-Valentín & Marta Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado & Juan-José Nájera-Sánchez, 2018. "Mapping the conceptual structure of science and technology parks," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(5), pages 1410-1435, October.
    2. Kamilla Kohn Rådberg & Hans Löfsten, 2023. "Developing a knowledge ecosystem for large-scale research infrastructure," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 441-467, February.
    3. Christopher S. Hayter & Andrew J. Nelson & Stephanie Zayed & Alan C. O’Connor, 2018. "Conceptualizing academic entrepreneurship ecosystems: a review, analysis and extension of the literature," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 1039-1082, August.
    4. Moon Gyu Kim & Ji-Hwan Lee & Taewoo Roh & Hosung Son, 2020. "Social Entrepreneurship Education as an Innovation Hub for Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Case of the KAIST Social Entrepreneurship MBA Program," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-23, November.
    5. Ratinho, Tiago & Amezcua, Alejandro & Honig, Benson & Zeng, Zhaocheng, 2020. "Supporting entrepreneurs: A systematic review of literature and an agenda for research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    6. Fuster, Elena & Padilla-Meléndez, Antonio & Lockett, Nigel & del-Águila-Obra, Ana Rosa, 2019. "The emerging role of university spin-off companies in developing regional entrepreneurial university ecosystems: The case of Andalusia," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 219-231.
    7. Soetanto, Danny & Jack, Sarah, 2016. "The impact of university-based incubation support on the innovation strategy of academic spin-offs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 25-40.
    8. Paul Benneworth & Tiago Ratinho, 2014. "Reframing the Role of Knowledge Parks and Science Cities in Knowledge-Based Urban Development," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 32(5), pages 784-808, October.
    9. Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Flechas, Ximena Alejandra & Facin, Ana Lucia Figueiredo & Borini, Felipe Mendes, 2021. "Ecosystem management: Past achievements and future promises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    10. Allan O’Connor & David Audretsch, 2023. "Regional entrepreneurial ecosystems: learning from forest ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 1051-1079, March.
    11. Williams, Christopher & Tesfaye Hailemariam, Atsede & Allard, Gayle, 2022. "Exploring entrepreneurial innovation in Ethiopia," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    12. Vera Rocha & Luca Grilli, 2024. "Early-stage start-up hiring: the interplay between start-ups’ initial resources and innovation orientation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1641-1668, April.
    13. Amezcua, Alejandro & Ratinho, Tiago & Plummer, Lawrence A. & Jayamohan, Parvathi, 2020. "Organizational sponsorship and the economics of place: How regional urbanization and localization shape incubator outcomes," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(4).
    14. Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil & Salvador Pérez-Canto & Paolo Landoni, 2023. "The effect of science and technology parks on tenant firms: a literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1489-1531, August.
    15. Chao Zhang & Jiancheng Guan, 2017. "How to identify metaknowledge trends and features in a certain research field? Evidences from innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(2), pages 1177-1197, November.
    16. Fahimeh Khatami & Veronica Scuotto & Norris Krueger & Valter Cantino, 2022. "The influence of the entrepreneurial ecosystem model on sustainable innovation from a macro-level lens," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1419-1451, December.
    17. Squicciarini, Mariagrazia, 2009. "Science parks, knowledge spillovers, and firms' innovative performance: evidence from Finland," Economics Discussion Papers 2009-32, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    18. Mian, Sarfraz & Lamine, Wadid & Fayolle, Alain, 2016. "Technology Business Incubation: An overview of the state of knowledge," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 1-12.
    19. Kelsi G. Hobbs & Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2017. "Science and technology parks: an annotated and analytical literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 957-976, August.
    20. Theodoraki, Christina & Dana, Léo-Paul & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: A holistic approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 346-360.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5637-:d:1682260. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.