Abstract

This study examined the role of entrepreneurial orientation in achieving excellent university performance. It to provide a comprehensive theoretical framework about the key concepts of the study variables introduced by researchers in this field, beside analytical framework for (100) of university leaderships in a sample of colleges of the Middle Euphrates universities (Qadisiyah, Babylon, Kufa). the entrepreneurial orientation as an independent variable had been expressed in three dimensions (Innovativeness, Risk – taking, and Proactiveness ) while the excellent university performance as a dependent variable had been expressed its five indicators of business results (Student learning and process outcomes, Customer – Focused outcomes, Workforce – Focused outcomes, Leadership and Governance outcomes, Budgetary, Financial and Market outcomes ) introduced by the Baldrige Program for Performance Excellence, Version 2011-2012. The researchers used the questionnaire as a method for measuring study variables. The study adopted the scale of (Alsultani,2011) based on (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996; Hughes & Morgan, 2007; Rasheed, 2009) to measure entrepreneurial orientation, , while the study used the scale developed by (Rashid and Al ziadi, 2012) for measuring excellent university performance . the study used a set of statistical means such as Pearson correlation, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study also revealed the existence of correlation and effect relationship between the dimensions entrepreneurial orientation and excellent university performance. It finally introduced a set of recommendations. among the most important in recommendations for universities the necessity of creating its scientifical environment for encourage creativity and innovation, Risk – taking behaviors, and Proactiveness.